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The leader of Change UK MPs has confirmed she will not force a general election to change the UK government.

Heidi Allen - an ex-Tory MP who has taken the helm of the former 'Independent Group' - signalled she was unlikely to back a no confidence vote in the Tory government.

And she confirmed: "We won't precipitate a general election."

The interim leader insisted a general election would "change nothing" and fail to break the Brexit deadlock.

But a Labour source fumed: "'Change UK' wont actually vote for change. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried".

(Image: PA)

It came as the fledgling party prepared to unveil around 70 candidates for the May 23 EU elections at a launch in Bristol this morning.

Ms Allen said they would be "right across the political spectrum" and both "political and non-political, public sector and private sector".

She said more than 100 ex-Lib Dems applied, plus 90 Greens, hundreds from Labour , and Tory MPs and MEPs.

Change UK is the official name for the Independent Group, which was founded by 8 Labour defectors and three Tory defector MPs in February.

The MPs quit largely over frustration with their parties for refusing to whole-heartedly oppose Brexit.

(Image: Getty Images)

But they have refused to face by-elections after changing their allegiance and say a general election would not be the right response.

A general election is triggered automatically after 14 days if the sitting government loses a vote of no confidence.

But for one to pass it would need the backing of key MPs, such as the DUP group who back Theresa May or Change UK.

Asked if Change UK MPs would back the government in a no confidence vote, Ms Allen told the BBC: "I can't say wholeheartedly that we'll vote for the government, or indeed would we ever be a confidence and supply partner in any coalition type government. You need to see what the offer on the table is at the moment.

"Do I believe however that a general election is a smart thing right now for our country? Absolutely not.

(Image: PA)

"We need to find a way through. I don't believe the talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will lead anywhere. I don't believe some customs union deal will emerge that can unite parliament.

"So we're going round and round in circles.

"A general election would fix nothing, it wouldn't change the splintering in the two main parties.

"The only way out of this is to put the decision back to the people in a confirmatory vote."

Asked to clarify that she would not vote to trigger a general election, she said: " We won't precipitate a general election, no we won't, but I don't think one necessarily leads to the other

"We're not the only people in Parliament who don't want a general election. It needs two thirds of MPs to vote for it and I don't see that happening any time soon."