Who is Heidi Allen? Tory MP who has quit to join Change UK rebels
HEIDI Allen sensationally quit the Conservatives along with Sarah Wollaston and Anna Soubry amid tensions within her party. Here is a little of what we know about the politicians. Who is Heidi Allen? Heidi Allen, 44, was the Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire before she left the party on February 20. After quitting the Tories she […]
HEIDI Allen sensationally quit the Conservatives along with Sarah Wollaston and Anna Soubry amid tensions within her party.
Here is a little of what we know about the politicians.
Who is Heidi Allen?
Heidi Allen, 44, was the Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire before she left the party on February 20.
After quitting the Tories she will still represent the constituency, but as an independent MP.
Ms Allen was elected at the 2015 general election.
She also stood for the role of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor.
But she failed to make the final round of the internal selection process after a vote by local party members in January 2017.
She was re-elected in the snap General Election of 2017.
Why did the Tory MP quit to join the Change UK rebels?
Along with two other MPs, she quit the Conservative Party to join the new Change UK group in a major blow to Theresa May’s authority.
She joined Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston in their defection, hitting out at the Prime Minister’s “disastrous” handling of Brexit as they quit.
The three – who will join the eight ex-Labour MPs who have formed Change UK – claimed Mrs May had failed to stand up to the “hard line” European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteers.
Did she go on BBC’s Have I Got News For You?
The May 10 episode of the BBC programme was cancelled because they had booked the Change UK MP.
A post from the programme’s Twitter account said the show was pulled because of upcoming elections to the European Parliament.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed: “The BBC has specific editorial guidelines that apply during election periods.
“Because of this it would be inappropriate to feature political party leaders on entertainment programmes during this short election period, which does not allow for equal representation to be achieved.
“So we will not broadcast the scheduled episode of HIGNFY featuring Heidi Allen, leader of Change UK.
“We will look to broadcast this episode at a later date.”
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Is she a remainer or a Brexiteer?
Ms Allen has strongly advocated remaining in the EU.
She is calling for a People’s Vote over Brexit.
As a backbencher she has voiced strong views against Brexit, often rebelling against the Prime Minister’s government.
She has previously talked of quitting the Tories should there be a prospect of a hard Brexit.
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