THE anti-Brexit group set up by former Labour and Tory MPs has been formally recognised as a political party, allowing it to contest the European elections.
After starting life at Westminster as The Independent Group, it will now appear on ballot papers as Change UK, after been registered by the Electoral Commission.
The party’s only clear policy is to hold a People’s Vote on Brexit with Remain as an option.
It has said it will stand candidates in Scotland, where they will be competing with the SNP, Greens and LibDems for pro-EU votes.
The election is due to take place on May 23 unless Theresa May can secure approval for her Brexit deal against the odds by May 22.
Two Tory MEPs, Julie Girling and Richard Ashworth, confirmed they had joined Change UK in the hope of standing for re-election.
Ms Girling said she was "fully committed to a People's Vote on Brexit" and was "looking forward to being able to use my extensive experience as part of the Change UK team".
The party has received around 3700 expressions of interest from around the UK.
It is currently polling between 4 and 7 per cent, behind Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party and Ukip, which both have around 12 per cent support.
Under the proportional regional list system, MEPs can be elected with just 10% of the vote.
The Independent Group (TIG) was formed in February when eight Labour and three Tory MPs quit their respective parties in protest at their leaders’ handling of Brexit.
The Labour MPs were also critical of Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to tackle anti-Semitism.
Change UK leader Heidi Allen, a former Tory MP, said the party had been “overwhelmed” by people wanting to join and campaign for another EU referendum.
She said: “Change UK - the Independent Group - have a clear message in the European elections: we demand a people’s vote and, if it is held, all our MPs will campaign to remain in and reform the European Union,” she said.
Change UK is due to announce its candidate list at a launch event next week.
Because MPs cannot also be MEPs, none of its Westminster team are expected to stand for Brussels.
The group applied to be a party in March, missing the deadline for English local elections.
Despite controversy over its name - and similarity to the Change.org petition website- the Electoral Commission approved Change UK as a party, but rejected its proposed logo.
The emblem was a black square containing the words “TIG #Change”.
A Commission spokesperson said: "The emblem contained a hashtag, and we cannot assess the material linked to a hashtag, which will change over time, against the legal tests.
"The emblem also contained the acronym TIG, which we were not satisfied was sufficiently well known."
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