Tory MP defects to Labour with blast at Sunak’s ‘chaotic’ rule
Tory MP Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour, hitting out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic Government”.
The Dover MP crossed the floor in the Commons just moments before Prime Minister’s Questions.
She said: “I have carefully considered this decision. The change has been dramatic and cannot be ignored.
“For me key deciding factors have been housing and the safety and security of our borders.”
She added: “From small boats to biosecurity, Rishi Sunak’s government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure. Lives are being lost in the English Channel while small boat arrivals are once again at record levels.
“It’s clear they have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted.”
‘Failed’
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked Mr Sunak “what is the point of this failed Government staggering on” when “the Tory MP for Dover on the front line of small boats crisis says the Prime Minister cannot be trusted with our borders and joins Labour?”.
Ms Elphicke was elected as Dover’s Conservative MP in 2019, taking over the seat which had been held by her disgraced then-husband Charlie, who was jailed for two years after being found guilty in 2020 of sexually assaulting two women.
“When I was elected in 2019, the Conservative Party occupied the centre ground of British politics. The party was about building the future and making the most of the opportunities that lay ahead for our country.
“Since then, many things have changed. The elected Prime Minister was ousted in a coup led by the unelected Rishi Sunak. Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division.
“The centre ground has been abandoned and key pledges of the 2019 manifesto have been ditched.
“Meanwhile the Labour Party has changed out of all recognition. Since 2019, it has moved on from Jeremy Corbyn and now, under Keir Starmer, occupies the centre ground of British politics.
“It has accepted Brexit and its economic policies and defence policies are responsible and can be trusted.
“Most significantly for me, the modern Labour Party looks to the future – to building a Britain of hope, optimism, opportunity and fairness. A Britain everyone can be part of.”
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I’m confused. Which broken promises from Sunak would make Labour immigration policies look good to a Tory MP who doesn’t think the Tory policy is tough enough?
Or are there rats and sinking ships (as well as sinking small boats) involved?
🤔
Just another careerist who thinks that joining a likely winning team suffices. If Labour has any guts ( and that is doubtful) they would tell this nasty piece of work to go join the National Front or whatever does the job of promoting its policies these days.
She knows, what we know, that Starmer & clique are far riight!
… particularly as Labour seems to have accepted her. Conspiracy theorists could speculate it’s a double bluff, to persuade many they might as well vote Tory. Oh dear.
So Corbyn and Abbot are not in Starmer’s party, but Elphicke is.
Could somebody tell me, please, whether this party is to the left or to the right of the LibDems?
To the right of One Nation Tories
Really! History books out…
That’s put a curse on the future of Clark Kent’s Neo-Labour…
Mandy to his right and Natalie to the right of him..
Sunak sent them one of his fire and forget drones…
With her track record I would think quite a number on the Labour benches at Westminster and rank and file members must be feeling uncomfortable today. I guess the question that will be on their lips will be ,’ Is she going to be the Labour candidate for Dover at the next election?’
This is Starmer’s broad church, full of heretics, devil worshippers etc, but not too many that could be called socialists.
The only purpose of this move is clear. She wants to remain an MP. Now the ballot paper that her name appears on will be carrying a lie. The name Elphicke is one of a Tory and it will have ‘Labour’ printed next to it. Se through the lie and vote her out, even if the replacement Tory gets in. This behaviour must be punished.
See.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Didnt have that on my bingo card.
She is not standing next GE so this is putting the boot into the PM for no other reason than PM not hard enough on vulnerable? Why not Reform, more to this yet to out in the wash? At least the bloke fighting for her seat is still in the running.
Hat trick next Wednesday?
Oh yeah, look up the vid of her at a P+O protest.
Ah not standing? I didn’t know that so disregard my comment above.
Came out earlier. I was a bit “EH?” before knowing. Mr KS knows her form.
But I think Mr KS takes the win knowing she is gone and they get their selection in the race. Use it for what it is.
Also revenge because she is one of those who can’t forgive the toppling of Johnson.
The fact that the likes of Elphicke, who’s made some nasty noises about people who aren’t white, show how far to the right Starmer’s Labour has marched under his command.
Toxic donations.
Toxic defections.
Toxic Labour
At least in Cymru we can vote positively and don’t have to vote for an emetic in order to purge ourselves of a Tory government.
M/s Elphicke should make an urgent appointment at her local Specsavers.They now do hearing tests as well as sight tests.
Who does she believe has blocked any attempt to control illegal migration. ANSWER Labour and Human Rights ” Charities” and Lawyers specialising with the aid of public money to thwart by ANY means to deport even those who have been refused entry!!!
You mean lawyers applying UK law. That is the law we use in the UK, not the “law of the bar fly”. So much for a capable government when they do not understand the law.
The damage is from the same government that dismantled any method to deal with this.
Open borders for any person without ANY documentation to come to the UK. Is that what you want.? No control. As for those who have been fully processed and had their claims declined,you would still oppose their return to a safe country?
Dewis Llafur yn hytrach na’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol ? … Rats’ and ‘sinking ships’ do indeed come to mind. Although defecting to the Liberal Democrats would seem a more politically appropriate move for someone on the left of the Tory Party. But definitely not a practical move, given the way that the First-Past-The-Post electoral system unfairly favours the two big Parties. This defector wants to remain in Parliament after the next General Election. Labour is therefore just a safer bet and to Hell with political principles.
Anyone else catch this?
N. Elphicke from 2 years ago (when still a Tory) visiting a Dover food bank:
Tory MP Who Voted Against Free Meals Visits Food Bank! (youtube.com)
This purple shade of Labour is turning decidedly blue! I challenge any Welsh Labour member to look at the pictures of Starmer, Elphicke and the union flag today and resist the urge to vomit. How can you argue, with any seriousness at all, that Labour is the vehicle to fulfil Wales’ best interests? Stop kidding yourselves! You’re in the wrong party. Plaid Cymru has the policies Wales needs. Join us and help us be the party Wales needs and help us win the votes to be the Government Wales needs. The UK is the wrong union for Wales. How much… Read more »
I’m voting Plaid but if you are to the right socially but still want independence from Westminster there is also Gwlad Gwlad.