New anti-Brexit party launches with big bang – but only a handful of people actually turn up
IS that all you've got?
The launch of a new anti-Brexit party began with not a bang but a whimper today, as just a handful of people showed up.
The rows of empty seats left Renew red-faced as they officially set up in Westminster this lunchtime.
Inspired by French President Emmanuel Macron, who swept to victory with his movement En Marche! in 2017, the new grouping wants to convince MPs to vote down Theresa May's Brexit deal.
It said it would target pro-Leave MPs in constituencies with high levels of Remainers who live in their areas.
More than 200 candidates have been lined up, but the party can't seem to get enough together in a room.
And to make matters worse, one of the three leaders walked out part-way through the press conference - reportedly to do a media interview.
The group was formed by an accountant, a former journalist and a consultant, and aims to contest seats both in May's local elections, and any upcoming General Election.
"We intend to be tough on Brexit and tough on the causes of Brexit,” said James Torrance, the party’s head of strategy.
"We’ll pressure MPs to consider the national interest and put Remain back on the table in a vote on the final EU deal."
Co-leader Sandra Khadhouri, a former UN and Nato worker, said the Brexit referendum had left Britain a conflict zone.
"As I finished working in Georgia for Nato last year I looked at which conflict zone to go to next and I decided it had to be Britain."
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They are using Mr Macron’s meteoric rise to power as their template, after the politician created his own party from scratch less than two years ago.
He then went on to win the Presidential election and “En Marche!” – which means “onward” or “on the move” – cleaned up in the legislative elections, winning a majority over all of the established parties.
Sandra Khadouri, of Renew, told France Info radio that exactly the same thing can happen in Britain, as both the Conservative and Labour parties are in turmoil – with Brexit at the heart of it.