to not understand why the defecting MPs don't join the Lib Dems?

[Sadik]

Apologies if there've been threads on this that I've missed. As I understand it, they want a moderate centrist politics something along the lines of European social democrats, plus they're all pro-EU.

Isn't this roughly the position of the Lib Dems? And they have a well established party machine and are - allowing for the problems of 1st past the post - actually quite popular.

I should say I've never voted LD, but they do seem a fair match for what this group of MPs are saying they want. I don't even think it's careerism, as the LDs have taken in defectors in the past and promoted them fast

Is this just going to be a re-run of the 80s with them going alone for a while a la the Gang of Four then folding into the LDs in the end??

My understanding is that the liberal democrats will be joining up. They are hoping to become the new centralist party.

It is a grave mistake to leave at this point though. They have lost all influence. A fledgling party takes years to build, unless you have some very very wealthy backers that are keen to lose a lot of money.

Perhaps they feel they can pull of a Macron style leadership bid (It hasn't worked out very well for him)

Credit to them for being true to their values. I admire any MP at the moment. The climate is hostile.
However I am in two minds whether they will just disappear into the tumble weed (most likely) or whether this is the start of something interesting....(less likely given the tiny numbers)

I am cringing at the photos of them though, and feel Anna Soubry is coming across a little bit unhinged during interviews. Despite me usually liking her a lot. A break for a week or two might be an idea. I don't think it is doing the new party any favours.

I'm a Labour member (though hate Corbyn) and if I was a Labour MP but couldn't stand it any longer and left, there's no way I'd join the Lib Dems.

When I speak to them their 'liberal' ideology feels so different to mine, they don't seem to agree that collective action is often needed to protect the rights of ordinary (i.e. not wealthy) people. To be honest it's a bit "I'm alright Jack", or at least naive.

They're nice people but the ones I know personally often haven't experienced real hardship. To make even more sweeping generalisations, they tend towards being 'equalists' or some such, rather than supporting feminism.

That sounded more critical than I meant it to, but basically imo that's why a Labour person might not be tempted to join them.