When his friend Arek was killed in the street, Eric Hind had sickening evidence that the country he'd come to call home had changed.

But the Polish IT consultant had started to feel uneasy even before that, as Britain prepared to vote earlier this year on whether to remain in the European Union.

As debate heated up about the U.K.'s place in Europe, Hind's outsider status was made all too clear to him.

"When I first moved to the U.K. I felt like it was a dream come true," he said with quiet sadness. "It's the country where there are no differences, people just get on with each other, there are no questions asked about where you're from.

"But now I just have to watch my back. People are worried to use their own language in the streets. It's not what it is supposed to be like, or what it was like before."

Hind was among hundreds of thousands of Poles who seized the opportunity when the EU expanded into eastern Europe in 2004 to move to Britain, regarded as a welcoming country with a flexible labour market and relatively high wages.

Twelve years on, he'd settled in Harlow, near London, with a family and a good job.

After the June 23 vote, Hind says he received text messages that said things like, "What time is my bus back home, have I got my passport and good luck in Poland."

Free movement among member states is a key principle of the EU, and millions of Europeans have become used to studying, working or retiring abroad. Britain's vote to quit the bloc - after a "leave" campaign that urged people to "take back control" - is in part a renunciation of that borderless ideal.

The support for leaving the EU was swelled by citizens who felt the presence of so many people from other EU countries was making Britain less "British" and making it harder for Britons to find jobs, housing, and medical care.

One campaign poster featured a long line of migrants beside the slogan "breaking point."

Anti-racism groups say the vote also unleashed a wave of xenophobia that has brought insults, abuse and physical attacks.

Much of the recorded abuse has been aimed at eastern Europeans, who have come to Britain in the hundreds of thousands over the past decade - and particularly Poles, the largest group, who number a million in the U.K.

'Polish' has become derogatory," said Suresh Grover of the Monitoring Group, a charity that works with victims of hate crime.

"People who have racist views have become emboldened and they now keep on saying things that were seen to be unacceptable," he adds.

Official figures back up anecdotal evidence of a rise in hate crime since the referendum. According to the Home Office, police recorded 1,546 racially or religiously aggravated offences in England and Wales in the two weeks before referendum day, and 2,241 in the two weeks after it. The total for July was up 41 percent from the same month a year earlier. August's level was lower, but still higher than before for Brexit vote.

Incidents reported around the country include offensive graffiti daubed on a Polish community centre; cards saying "no more Polish vermin" left on cars; a Polish man punched and kicked in Yeovil, southwest England; another Polish man beaten by a gang of teenagers in the northern city of Leeds; and a 21-year-old Polish student stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle in the English Midlands town of Telford.

On Aug. 27, a Saturday night, Hind's friend Arkadiusz Jozwik, known as Arek, was involved in an altercation with youths outside a pizza parlour in Harlow, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of London. The 40-year-old was felled by a single punch, hit his head and died in hospital two days later.

Police said they were investigating the death as a hate crime, and arrested six teens aged 15 and 16. Five have been released for lack of evidence, while one remains on bail.

Poland's ambassador to Britain, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the hostility toward a community whose presence in Britain goes back to World War II, when Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain and a Polish government-in-exile was based in London.

"The hospitality of British society was very famous, and we appreciate it," he said.

Rzegocki said he is confident that common sense and British decency will prevail. He said the embassy has received many supportive letters from Britons condemning the attacks.

And he points out that Britain is a country with low unemployment whose economy relies on migrants, including armies of Polish plumbers, nannies and fruit-pickers.

"I am sure that most of British society is very welcoming to immigrants - especially to the Poles which had, and still have, a huge contribution to the British economy and to the British culture," he said.

He notes that for Europe, the 20th century was the era of "borders and protectionism - and it wasn't a good century in European history."

No one is arguing that the referendum introduced prejudice to Britain - earlier groups of immigrants, from Jews 100 years ago to West Indians after World War II, also experienced hostility. In the 2014 British Social Attitudes survey, about a third of people admitted to being a little or very prejudiced against other races.

Dorothy Spriggs, an 85-year-old who has lived in Harlow for almost 50 years says she can here people making derogatory comments about 'foreigners coming in' when she's on the bus.

Harlow is a post-World War II "new town" whose first residents included bombed-out Londoners. Over the years they've been joined by others - Chinese, Indians and more recently eastern Europeans, whose shops and delis sit alongside the town's fish-and-chip shops, Indian restaurants and kebab takeaways.

Spriggs stopped recently beside a makeshift memorial near the spot where Jozwik died: bunches of flowers, a candle and three large stuffed animals lined up neatly on benches.

"Try to understand the opinion of the other people," she urges.

"Listen to them, listen to them about their culture, things like that. You know, learn more about their way of life and our way of life and sort of intermix in that way," she adds.

That appeal may be too late to keep Hind in Harlow, or in Britain.

He's stopped going into town after 6 p.m. He's planning to leave the U.K., so his 2-year-old British-born daughter can grow up somewhere she will feel safe.

Hind worries he won't be allowed to remain in Britain even if he wants to.

The government has refused to guarantee that the estimated 3 million EU nationals in Britain can stay unless U.K. citizens elsewhere in the EU get the same right. Europe's borders are firming up again.

"It's just not nice to live in a country where you don't know where you stand ... if you don't know what will happen tomorrow, if someone will come to your door and say, 'OK, time for you to pack your bags and go home,'" Hind said.

"Everyone wants to feel safe and I don't think this is the case now in the U.K."

++CLIENTS PLEASE USE THIS EDIT WHICH CONTAINS AN ADDITIONAL SOUNDBITE BY DOROTHY SPRIGGS AND UPDATED STORYLINE++

Harlow - 20 October 2016

1. Bench with flowers, lantern and picture of Arek Jozwik, a Polish national who was killed on 27 August

2. Photo of Arek, pan

3. Wide of benches

4. Mid of bench area, soft toys where Polish national Arkadiusz Jozwik, known as Arek, was killed

5. Various of Polish national Eric Hind, living in the UK since 2004 and friend of Arek smoking a cigarette

6. Mid of Hind seated

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Hind, Polish IT consultant, living in the UK since 2004, friend of Arek:

"When I first moved to the U.K. I felt like it was a dream come true, it's the country where there are no differences, people just get on with each other, there are no questions asked about where you're from, the dialect you are talking with, and stuff like that. But now I just have to watch my back. People are worried to use their own language in the streets. It's not what it is supposed to be like, or what it was like before."

8. Close-up Hind's hands

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Hind, Polish IT consultant, living in the UK since 2004, friend of Arek:

"It's just not nice to live in a country where you don't know where you stand. So that's worrying and not very assuring to anyone. If you don't know what will happen tomorrow, if someone will knock to your door and say, 'OK, time for you to pack your bags and go home. I mean everyone wants the same, everyone wants to feel safe and I don't believe this is the case now in the U.K. You don't know what will happen and that's not good."

10. Mid of Harlow shopping centre street

11. Close of Union Flag flying from window

12. Various of shop exteriors selling goods from Europe

13. Various exteriors of Polish food shop

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Dorothy Spriggs, an 85-year-old who has lived in Harlow for almost 50 years:

"You've only got to hear people's conversation - if you're on the bus or somewhere like that, you know, over the course of the years, they say 'oh, its all these foreigners coming in'."

15. Cutaway of candle for Arek

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Dorothy Spriggs, an 85-year-old who has lived in Harlow for almost 50 years:

"Well, try to understand that's the opinion of the other people. Listen to them, listen about their culture, things like that. You know, learn more about their way of life and our way of life and sort of intermix in that way. I think so anyway."

17. Various set up shots of Suresh Grover, Director of the Monitoring Group, a charity that works with victims of hate crime.

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Suresh Grover, Director of the Monitoring Group:

"That underbelly has been let out loose. People who have racist views have become emboldened and they now keep saying things that were seen to be unacceptable. The 'n' word is back on the agenda, the 'p' word and Polish, the word Polish has become as derogatory as a 'Paki'. That's absolutely senseless, degrading, dehumanising in the 21st century Britain. A modern Britain which won Olympics on the basis of multicultural dynamic society."

19. Pan down of photo of race protest

20. Close of books

21. Various set up shots of Poland's ambassador to Britain, Arkady Rzegocki

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Arkady Rzegocki, Poland's Ambassador to Britain:

"Poles are present in Britain for decades or even centuries. Permanent presence of Poland is going (back) to the Second World War and after that, so I was a little bit shocked when it appeared that after the referendum we noticed more xenophobic incidents in different parts of Great Britain. Unfortunately after the referendum, we noticed some increase of incidents."

23. Cutaway hands

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Arkady Rzegocki, Poland's ambassador to Britain:

"I am sure that most of British society is very welcoming to immigrants, especially to the Poles which had, and still have, a huge contribution to the British economy and to the British culture, so I hope it will remain."

25. Wide of Polish embassy

26. Pan up to Polish and EU Flag

27. Close of Polish flag

Far-right protesters took to the streets of London on Sunday to demand the rejection of Theresa May's Brexit deal and Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

Among those marching at the protest organised by the eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) were people holding flags of the European and North American far-right and white nationalist movement, Generation Identity.

UKIP leader Gerrard Batten and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the far right anti-Islam protest group, the English Defence League (EDL), spoke at the rally on Whitehall.

Yaxley-Lennon was recently appointed a UKIP advisor on prison reform and rape gangs, although he is currently not allowed party membership due to his previous association to the EDL, which is ruled a proscribed group under UKIP rules.

British lawmakers on Tuesday are widely expected to vote down a deal Prime Minister Theresa May has negotiated with Brussels.

A defeat in the vote could see Britain crashing out of the EU on March 29, the date for Britain's exit, with no deal in place — an outcome that could spell economic chaos.

May's government does not have a majority in the House of Commons, and opposition parties — as well as many of May's own Conservatives — have already said they will not back the divorce deal that May and EU leaders agreed on last month.

London - 9 December 2018

1. Protesters holding banner reading (English) "Brexit means Exit. Dump the Deal"

2. Various of UK Independence Party (UKIP) supporters marching

3. Man wearing suit made in the colours of the British flag chanting (English) "We're getting out of Europe, we're getting out of Europe and we don't care."

4. Protesters chanting (English) "We want Britain out"

5. Protesters marching

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dave Bond, protester:

"Believe it or I actually voted remain. And I've come here today because I think that it's absolutely disgusting and so anti-democratic that we're not accepting the will of the people. This is what the people have voted for and I think its terrible that our politicians and the elitist celebrities and news organisations should try and take the vote away from the people. And if I was to vote tomorrow now, god forbid we have another vote because I wouldn't want one, then I would vote for Brexit."

7. Various of march

8. Protester chanting (English) "Theresa is a traitor"

9 . Protester holding a placard reading (English) "Treason May! Judas!"

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Frankie Rufflow, protester:

"We are in a much stronger position than we were two years ago. We can get a very good deal. If we do end up leaving with no deal, which could happen if May's deal is voted down, it's still no big deal. Business is a matter of supply and demand, a lot of countries trade on a no deal basis. It will sort itself out eventually. The big companies can adjust. It's not about big business and corporations, it's about what the people voted for, we voted on principle. We want the laws that govern this country to be made solely in this country and to have control of our own borders and sovereignty of parliament."

11. UKIP leader Gerard Batten addressing the Brexit Betrayal rally

12. Crowd chanting (English) "Out means out."

13. Protesters holding signs, on right sign reading (German) "Lugenpresse", the word Nazis used to demonise the media as "lying press"

14. Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson addressing the rally

15. Protester holding white nationalist movement "Generation Identity" flag in front of police lines

16. Protesters cheering

Seven British lawmakers quit the main opposition Labour Party on Monday over its approach to issues including Brexit and anti-Semitism, blasting open a long-simmering rift in the left-of-centre party.

Many Labour lawmakers have been unhappy with the party's direction under leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who took charge in 2015 with strong grass-roots backing.

They accuse Corbyn of mounting a weak opposition to the Conservative government's plans for leaving the European Union, and of failing to stamp out a vein of anti-Jewish prejudice in the party.

The quitters represent a small fraction of Labour's 256 lawmakers, or the 650 total members of Parliament.

But this is the biggest split in the party since four senior members on the right wing quit in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party.

One of the MPs, Mike Gapes, accused the party's leaders of being "complicit in facilitating Brexit."

The seven lawmakers said they will continue to sit in Parliament as the newly formed Independent Group.

Corbyn said he was "disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945".

UK POOL

London - 18 February 2019

1. Pan from audience to independent (formerly Labour MP) Ann Coffey speaking

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Leslie, independent MP (formerly Labour): ++INCLUDES MULTIPLE ANGLES++

"Choosing to stand by while our constituents' lives and future opportunities are hurt by Brexit is a fundamental violation of Labour's traditional values. But our differences go far deeper than Brexit. The past three years have confirmed how irresponsible it would be to allow this leader of the opposition to take the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Many people still in the Labour Party will privately admit this to be true but we owe it to our constituents now to say it publicly and honestly. The pursuit of policies that would threaten our national security through hostility to NATO, the refusal to act when needed to help those facing humanitarian distress, preferring to believe states hostile to our country rather than believing our police and security services: these are all rooted in the Labour leadership's obsession with a narrow, outdated ideology."

3. Close of Leslie's hands on lectern

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Gapes, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"I am sickened that the Labour Party is now a racist, antisemitic party. I'm furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit which will cause great economic, social and political damage to our country. Jeremy Corbyn and those around him are on the wrong side on so many international issues from Russia to Syria to Venezuela. A Corbyn Labour government would threaten our national security and international alliances. Now this is personally very difficult for me. I've got lots of very good friends locally, nationally and internationally through the Labour Party but I must be true to myself and my values."

5 . Wide of independent (formerly Labour MP) Chuka Umunna speaking to media

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuka Umunna, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"Too many in Britain face barriers in fulfilling their dreams, their potential, and people don't get the support that they need. We believe it doesn't have to be that way. Fundamental change is needed. Now the last few years have shown the established parties are simply not up to this challenge. They can't be the change because they have become the problem. They have failed to provide the leadership and clear direction which the UK desperately needs. They are deeply divided. They have failed to fulfil their duties with the competence the public rightly deserves. They've put their party political interests before the national interest and they don't represent the complex tapestry which is more than Britain."

7. Wide of Umunna speaking to media

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuka Umunna, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"You might come from a Labour background but you might come from other political traditions. And yes it's a difficult decision. Make no mistake about that, but think about it. You don't join a political party to spend years and years fighting the people within it. You get involved in politics, you join the party to change the world. So we invite you to leave your parties and help us forge a new consensus on a way forward for Britain. We will sit together as an independent group of MPs in the House of Commons from here on. We haven't yet assigned roles or responsibilities between us but we will have our first formal meeting as a new group of employees in the coming days."

9. Independent (formerly Labour MP) Luciana Berger approaching podium

The Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said the Brexit vote appeared to have emboldened some people to commit hate crimes in the UK.

Speaking in London on Monday, Miqdaad Versi said that hundreds of hate crimes had been committed across the country in the past two days since the vote to leave the EU.

He said that the type of language being used in the abuse indicated that there was some sort of link with the referendum result.

Versi said it was now very important that civic society and politicians stood up to this racism and bigotry.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked London police to be on heightened alert to deal with a possible increase in hate crimes as a result of the Brexit vote.

Khan said on Monday that there would be "zero tolerance" of any attempt to divide communities. He spoke after a Polish diplomat complained about abuse directed at the Polish community since Thursday's vote.

A Polish community centre in west London was vandalised and police in Cambridgeshire are looking into reports of racist notes being given to Polish residents.

Immigration was a big issue in the vote, with those wanting to take Britain out of the EU saying it would make it easier for Britain to control its borders.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also condemned a spate of racist attacks since the referendum, saying he would "not tolerate intolerance".

The Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said the Brexit vote appeared to have emboldened some people to commit hate crimes in the UK.

Speaking in London on Monday, Miqdaad Versi said that hundreds of hate crimes had been committed across the country in the past two days since the vote to leave the EU.

He said that the type of language being used in the abuse indicated that there was some sort of link with the referendum result.

Versi said it was now very important that civic society and politicians stood up to this racism and bigotry.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked London police to be on heightened alert to deal with a possible increase in hate crimes as a result of the Brexit vote.

Khan said on Monday that there would be "zero tolerance" of any attempt to divide communities. He spoke after a Polish diplomat complained about abuse directed at the Polish community since Thursday's vote.

A Polish community centre in west London was vandalised and police in Cambridgeshire are looking into reports of racist notes being given to Polish residents.

Immigration was a big issue in the vote, with those wanting to take Britain out of the EU saying it would make it easier for Britain to control its borders.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also condemned a spate of racist attacks since the referendum, saying he would "not tolerate intolerance".

London – 27 June 2016

1. Set up of Assistant Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain Miqdaad Versi

2. Close-up of Versi

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Miqdaad Versi, Assistant Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain:

"What we can say is that in the last two days we've had hundreds of hate crimes across the country, and they type of language that has been used, like 'Go back to your own country', 'We voted this way, now you have to get out,' - that type of language indicates there is some sort of link (to the referendum result), and that people on the ground feel somehow legitimised to say the things that they are (saying.) They feel emboldened that this result has meant that a majority of people support their racist and bigoted views, when in reality, that's not the case."

4. Cutaway

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Miqdaad Versi, Assistant Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain:

"The reality is that this (referendum result) may have unleashed a Pandora's box of bigotry and Islamophobia that has emboldened those who wanted to say things in the past and haven't felt they've been able to. And as a result it is very important that civic society and politicians stand up to say 'no' to racism, 'no' to bigotry, and act rather than just stay silent on an issue that affects the whole of society."

6. Cutaway

Seven British lawmakers quit the main opposition Labour Party on Monday over its approach to issues including Brexit and anti-Semitism, blasting open a long-simmering rift in the left-of-centre party.

Many Labour lawmakers have been unhappy with the party's direction under leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who took charge in 2015 with strong grass-roots backing.

They accuse Corbyn of mounting a weak opposition to the Conservative government's plans for leaving the European Union, and of failing to stamp out a vein of anti-Jewish prejudice in the party.

The quitters represent a small fraction of Labour's 256 lawmakers, or the 650 total members of Parliament.

But this is the biggest split in the party since four senior members on the right wing quit in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party.

Luciana Berger, one of those who announced Monday that she is leaving, said Labour had become "institutionally anti-Semitic".

Another, Mike Gapes, accused the party's leaders of being complicit in facilitating Brexit.

"It's not just the politics. It is whether you can feel a moral integrity to go along with things that you can no longer justify or accept. And I've come to my own breaking point. I cannot do that any longer", he added.

The seven lawmakers said they will continue to sit in Parliament as the newly formed Independent Group.

Corbyn said he was "disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945".

Those Labour lawmakers who quit in 1981 eventually became today's Liberal Democrats, a centrist party that has failed to topple the dominance of Britain's two main political parties, Conservatives and Labour.

The new Labour splitters urged others to join them in creating a new centrist force in British politics.

"We do not think any of the major parties is fit for power", said lawmaker Angela Smith.

"People feel politically homeless and they are asking and begging for an alternative."

UK POOL

London - 18 February 2019

1. Journalist asking question

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Gapes, UK Member of Parliament for Ilford South:

SOUNDBITE (English)

"This is not the Labour Party that I fought to save when Neil Kinnock was leader. It isn't the Labour Party that I fought against Trotskyists in student politics. This is the Labour Party which has changed beyond recognition. And you have to make a decision. It's not just the politics. It is whether you can feel a moral integrity to go along with things that you can no longer justify or accept. And I've come to my own breaking point. I cannot do that any longer."

3. Journalist asking question

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Angela Smith, UK Member of Parliament Penistone and Stocksbridge:

"People feel politically homeless and they are asking and begging for an alternative. This is why we believe our politics is broken and that something has to be done to build back a politics that people believe in, and we cannot be complicit in a political system which is broken and which is failing to put the country first and put people first."

5. Journalist asking question

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Chukka Umunna, UK Member of Parliament for Streatham:

"Make no mistake, it's not just Labour MPs who are privately wrestling with their consciences on this every single day. We know of lots of other members of parliament in other parties too. The whole thing is broken, so we've got to change it."

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Leslie, UK Member of Parliament for Nottingham East:

"So, of course, for myself the Brexit saga has been very much a tipping point. You know I've been trying for a very, very long time to push and cajole and nudge the Labour Party to do what I would regard that its traditional values to point it towards which is protecting jobs and livelihoods, but instead we've seen the consistent attempt to put this sort of political calculations above what I regard as the national interest and that for me has been a tipping point. But there's a combination of issues as you've heard today."

8. Journalist asking question

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Luciana Berger, UK Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree:

"Well when I joined the Labour Party thought I was joining a broad church and it's now clear that that broad church which brought many of us into the Labour Party no longer exists, and therefore we have to be true to ourselves and true to our values. It would be much easier for us if we just kept quiet and kept our heads down. But we don't believe or I certainly don't believe that's what I came into politics to do."

10. Journalist asking question

Seven British lawmakers say they are quitting the main opposition Labour Party over its approach to issues including Brexit and anti-Semitism.

Many Labour lawmakers are unhappy with the party's direction under leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who took charge in 2015 with strong grass-roots backing.

They accuse him of mounting a weak opposition to the Conservative government's plans for leaving the European Union, and of failing to stamp out a vein of anti-Jewish prejudice in the party.

Luciana Berger, one of those who announced Monday she is leaving, said Labour has become "institutionally anti-Semitic."

The quitters are only a fraction of Labour's 256 lawmakers.

But this is the biggest split in the party since four senior members quit in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party.

UK POOL

London - 18 February 2019

1 . Group of seven Labour MPs arriving at news conference, surrounded by reporters

2 . SOUNDBITE (English) Luciana Berger, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"This morning, we have all now resigned from the Labour Party. This has been a very difficult, painful but necessary decision. We represent different parts of the country. We are of different backgrounds. We were born of different generations, but we all share the same values. From today we will all sit in Parliament as a new independent group of MPs."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

2 .  SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Leslie, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"But the Labour Party we joined, that we campaigned for and believed in, is no longer today's Labour Party. We did everything we could to save it but it has now been hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left. As Luciana said, our values haven't changed. We absolutely oppose this Conservative government and desperately want an alternative which tackles the barriers of poverty and discrimination by extending opportunity for all. But British politics is now well and truly broken. And in all conscience, we can no longer knock on doors and support a government led by (Labour party leader) Jeremy Corbyn or the team around him."

4. UK's Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaving house

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuka Umunna, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"Too many in Britain face barriers in fulfilling their dreams, their potential, and people don't get the support that they need. We believe it doesn't have to be that way. Fundamental change is needed. Now the last few years have shown the established parties are simply not up to this challenge. They can't be the change because they have become the problem. They have failed to provide the leadership and clear direction which the UK desperately needs. They are deeply divided. They have failed to fulfil their duties with the competence the public rightly deserves. They've put their party political interests before the national interest and they don't represent the complex tapestry which is more than Britain."

Seven British lawmakers say they are quitting the main opposition Labour Party over its approach to issues including Brexit and anti-Semitism.

Many Labour lawmakers are unhappy with the party's direction under leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who took charge in 2015 with strong grass-roots backing.

They accuse him of mounting a weak opposition to the Conservative government's plans for leaving the European Union, and of failing to stamp out a vein of anti-Jewish prejudice in the party.

Luciana Berger, one of those who announced Monday she is leaving, said Labour has become "institutionally anti-Semitic."

The quitters are only a fraction of Labour's 256 lawmakers.

But this is the biggest split in the party since four senior members quit in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party.

UK POOL

London - 18 February 2019

++INCLUDES JUMP CUTS++

++PART MUTE++

1. UK's Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaving house

2. Group of seven Labour MPs arriving at news conference, surrounded by reporters ++MUTE++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Luciana Berger, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"This morning, we have all now resigned from the Labour Party. This has been a very difficult, painful but necessary decision. We represent different parts of the country. We are of different backgrounds. We were born of different generations, but we all share the same values. From today we will all sit in Parliament as a new independent group of MPs."

4. Berger at podium

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Luciana Berger, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"For my part I have become embarrassed and ashamed to remain in the Labour Party. I have not changed. The core values of equality for all, opportunity for all, anti-racism against all, and social justice, the values which I hold really dear and which led me to join the Labour Party as a student almost 20 years ago remain who I am. And yet these values have been consistently and constantly violated, undermined and attacked as the Labour party today refuses to put my constituents and our country before party interest. I cannot remain in a party that I have today come to the sickening conclusion is institutionally anti-Semitic."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Leslie, independent MP (formerly Labour):

"But the Labour Party we joined, that we campaigned for and believed in, is no longer today's Labour Party. We did everything we could to save it but it has now been hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left. As Luciana said, our values haven't changed. We absolutely oppose this Conservative government and desperately want an alternative which tackles the barriers of poverty and discrimination by extending opportunity for all. But British politics is now well and truly broken. And in all conscience, we can no longer knock on doors and support a government led by (Labour party leader) Jeremy Corbyn or the team around him."

7. Leslie leaving lectern