‘We’ll cause waves’ Gina Miller warns of 'angst' as Best for Britain backs 16 Remain MPs
A CAMPAIGN led by 'wrexiteer’ Gina Miller to soften Theresa May's Brexit plans is throwing its support behind 16 Remain MPs to help them retain their seats in the General Election.
Gina Miller: Brexit has wounded our country
Some of the staunchest opponents of a hard Brexit - including Nick Clegg and Caroline Lucas - will be given cash donations, campaign support and advertising from the Best of Britain campaign.
The drive aims at promoting tactical voting to defeat Conservative candidates and limit Theresa May's majority in the Commons.
So far, Mrs Miller's campaign has raised almost £400,000 to help anti-Brexit MPs hold on to their seats.
Candidates must be backing that real choice on the final, meaningful vote at the end of the deal. That is what they will be very vocal about
There are currently 10 Labour, five Lib Dem and one Green Party candidate being helped by Best of Britain.
The Labour candidates are Kevin Brennen, Fabian Hamilton, Rupa Huq, Peter Kyle, Clive Lewis, Kerry McCarthy, Tulip Siddiq, Andy Slaughter, Jo Stevens and Gareth Thomas.
While Mark Hunter, Sarah Olney, Tom Brake, Lisa Smart and Mr Clegg have been chosen for the Liberal Democrats as well as the Greens' Ms Lucas.
Ms Miller, whose successful court challenge last year forced Theresa May to seek permission from Parliament before triggering Article 50, told the Guardian the group was "going to cause some waves and some angst".
She said: “We are going to be quite stringent on what we do.
"Candidates must be backing that real choice on the final, meaningful vote at the end of the deal. That is what they will be very vocal about.
“They are candidates who will fight for a real choice on the final deal, who are fighting a winnable seat but not a dead certainty, have an immaculate track record in terms of personal conduct and principles and, finally, are opposed to an extreme Brexit."
Mrs Miller said the list was "fluid" and the names on the list could change right up until the day before voting.
Such is the divisive nature of Brexit - and the parlous state of the Labour opposition - that many left-leaning activists are promoting tactical voting as the only legitimate means of preventing a Tory landslide.
Tomorrow sees the official launch of the Progressive Alliance in London on Monday, a cross-party group comprises members from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru, which aims to defeat Conservative candidates in key seats in next month's General Election.
Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South and currently one of the Best of British 16 - will be the keynote speaker, defying leader Jeremey Corbyn who has ruled out any election pacts with rival parties.