Five independent MPs have come together to form an official parliamentary alliance.

The group, known as the ‘Independent Alliance’, comprises former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed.

The alliance are promising to fight austerity and campaign on issues including the winter fuel allowance, the two-child benefit limit and arms sales to Israel.

The MPs said: “We were elected by our constituents to provide hope in a parliament of despair. Already, this government has scrapped the winter fuel allowance for around 10 million pensioners, voted to keep the two-child benefits cap, and ignored calls to end arms sales to Israel.”

“Millions of people are crying out for a real alternative to austerity, inequality and war – and their voices deserve to be heard. As individuals we were voted by our constituents to represent their concerns in parliament on these matters, and more, and we believe that as a collective group we can carry on doing this with greater effect.”

The group has also invited other MPs to join them. “The more MPs who are prepared to stand up for these principles, the better. Our door is always open to other MPs who believe in a more equal and peaceful world.” Some commentators have speculated that the seven rebel Labour MPs suspended for six months for voting to axe the two-child benefit cap, including Zarah Sultana former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, could join the group.

After the vote, the five independent MPs wrote a joint letter to the suspended Labour MPs praising their decision and saying they “look forward to working with you closely as you represent your constituents more effectively than ever as independent members of parliament”.

The Independent Alliance, while not a political party, currently have the same number of MPs as Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist party, who each have five MPs, and more than the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, who have four.