The plan for Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘Independent’ group of MPs can only improve democracy.

Mr Corbyn, together with fellow Independent Shockat Adam, has reached out to the other Independents who stood on a pro-Palestine platform to defeat Labour candidates in July’s general election, with a view to building a stronger voice in Parliament.

Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed are involved the talks, but former DUP MP Alex Easton – also an Independent – is not part of the discussions. This is probably because his politics are unlikely to align with that of Mr Corbyn and the others.

They won’t be eligible for around £129,000 in “short money” – public funds given to Opposition parties to support research – because Parliamentary rules don’t allow this cash to go to new groups formed between general elections.

But forming a group will increase their chances of taking part in debates and on committees, which are usually decided according to party size.

And they could build up more funds for campaign work by sharing resources and hosting joint fundraisers.

This would all improve democracy because with Labour’s huge majority, the more voices that are able to be heard in Parliament, offering alternatives on the Left of politics, the better.

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