Former Conservative MP Heidi Allen joins Liberal Democrats

Heidi Allen MP has joined the Liberal Democrats.

Former Conservative MP Heidi Allen has joined the Liberal Democrats, the party has said.

The South Cambridgeshire MP, who has been sitting as an independent since quitting the Change UK group in June, takes the Lib Dem tally in the Commons to 19.

Her move follows the recent arrivals of ex-Tories Sarah Wollaston, Sam Gyimah and Phillip Lee as well as former Labour MPs Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith and Luciana Berger.

Ms Allen, a committed Remainer, said she was joining the Lib Dems as the other main parties had turned their backs on the "liberal progressive centre ground".