Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston leaves Change UK to sit as an independent

Sarah Wollaston, MP for the Totnes constituency, has left the Change UK party after four months to sit in parliament as an Independent.

In a joint statement with Heidi Allen, Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith, the former Conservative MP announced that she would be sitting independently in order to 'work cross party and respond flexibly'.

Wollaston defected to Change UK from the Conservative Party on February 20 this year, just two days after it was founded by a cross party group of MPs.

She appeared at the official launch event for the party in Bristol and was also involved in campaigning for the party's candidates during the lead up to the European Election.

Anna Soubry MP, who has taken over from Heidi Allen as leader of Change UK, has said the six resignations have left her 'deeply disappointed'.

Since announcing her departure from Change UK, Wollastonhas not yet shown any intention of joining an existing party despite being open about her allegiance with the People's Vote movement.