Starmer welcomes Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing major backlash from the Labour Party after welcoming right-wing Tory MP into his party with open arms.
Sir Keir secured a major political coup shortly before PMQs today when Labour announced a second Tory MP defection in two weeks, with Dover MP Natalie Elphicke crossing the floor.
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However Ms Elphicke has always been on the hard right of the party, especially on issues of immigration, and previous rows and scandals have led many in Labour to blast Sir Keir for allowing her into the party.
From slamming Labour on immigration to her controversial role defending her ex-MP husband during a sexual assault trial, Ms Elphicke’s litany of previous anti-Labour statements provides huge ammunition for the Conservative Party.
This afternoon Labour’s spokesman said her defection is “a sign of the progress that we’ve made that people recognise that on some of the key challenges facing the country, the Tories have failed”.
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Below The Express takes a look over some of Labour’s newest MP’s most prominent rows, scandals and controversies.
READ MORE: Tory defector Natalie Elphicke slammed over Labour immigration U-turn
Sir Keir was delighted to welcome Ms Elphicke (Image: PA)
Immigration
Natalie Elphicke wrote a column for the Express pointing out that “at every opportunity so far, Labour have voted against the Stop the Boats Bill”.
She said: “And this week the Labour front bench have laid a series of amendments that would make it more difficult to detain and remove illegal migrants.
“This shows, yet again, that not only have Labour got no plan of their own to tackle illegal immigration, they simply do not want to.”
She also described Keir Starmer as "Sir Softie" and said Labour voting against the boats bill was defying the British people's "desire to control our borders".
Despite Labour’s spokesman saying his party has changed since 2019, the Express can reveal that as recently as March this year Ms Elphicke wrote a note to the Tory whips describing Labour’s opposition to Rwanda as “nonsense”.
She also claimed that under Labour’s proposals, terrorist suspects would have routes to stay in the UK.
Ms Elphicke called Labour's opposition to Rwanda 'nonsense' as recently as March (Image: Express)
Marcus Rashford
In 2021 Ms Elphicke sparked a row when she said Marcus Rashford should have spent “more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics” after he missed a penalty.
She later made a grovelling climbdown, but not before Labour MP Charlotte Nichols tweeted: “When Natalie Elphicke has fed as many hungry children as Marcus Rashford, or done as much to inspire the nation, then she can slag him off all she likes.”
Rachel Reeves told Elphicke to "f*** off" over her comments.
She said: “The MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke - when Rashford missed a penalty her tweet was if he spent more time on football rather than trying to get free school meals for our kids maybe he'd be better? F*** off!”
This afternoon a member of Labour's NEC said it was an "absolute disgrace and a new low for Starmer", asking if Labour is now a "safe haven for any defecting racist Tory MP who want to... join in with the abuse of black England players after missing a penalty?"
Charlie Elphicke
Natalie Elphicke defended her ex-MP husband Charlie after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women and jailed for two years. Ms Elphicke argued he had merely been “attractive, and attracted to, women” and that made him “an easy target for dirty politics and false allegations”. She claimed he had been the victim of a “terrible miscarriage of justice”.
She was also suspended from the Commons and told to apologise in 2021 for being found to have tried to influence a judge presiding over Mr Elphicke’s trial.
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Ms Elphicke defended her husband even after he was found guilty (Image: PA)
Starmer misled Commons
In 2022 Ms Elphicke accused Keir Starmer of knowingly misleading the House of Commons, a grave rule breach, when he claimed the PM has accused the BBC of “not being critical enough of Putin”.
She tweeted: “I was also at the meeting and didn’t hear anything of the kind from @BorisJohnson - Sir @DavidEvennettMP is absolutely right on this. In what he said @Keir_Starmer was wholly inaccurate and I believe he has misled the @HouseofCommons”.
Fire and rehire
Ms Elphicke was heckled by P&O protestors when she joined them to support their demands that the Ferry operator reverse its decision to sack 800 seafarers.
She ended up being surrounded by professors who chanted “shame on you", "you voted for fire and rehire", and "you're on their side".
Tax
Natalie Elphicke said Labour’s solution to tackle the cost of living was “grabbing more in taxes from the pockets of millions of hardworking British people”.
“Labour’s solution to tackle the cost of living? Grabbing more in taxes from the pockets of millions of hardworking British people. Same old Labour”
Ms Elphicke was heckled by protesting P&O workers (Image: PA)
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Coalition of chaos
Natalie Elphicke said all Labour offer is “Lib/Lab/SNP coalition of chaos that would take our country backwards on Brexit and break up the United Kingdom”.
She said: "At #PMQs today a very muddled and confused performance by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. A strong reminder that all the opposition offer is a Lib/Lab/SNP coalition of chaos that would take our country backwards on Brexit and break up the United Kingdom.”
Bullying of Rosie Duffield
Natalie Elphicke said it was “appalling” that Keir Starmer had “failed to address the bullying and intimidation” of Labour MP Rosie Duffield.
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She told the Commons: “Bullying and physical intimidation is wrong whoever it is done to and we should call it out. That is why it is appalling that the Labour leadership has failed to address the bullying and intimidation of the hon. Member for Canterbury.”
Car tax
Ms Elphicke criticised Labour’s “expensive car tax imposed on Kent residents”.
She said: “Strong #PMQ from my East Kent neighbour @cmackinlay - he’s absolutely right on this. Labour London’s expensive car tax imposed on Kent residents travelling to work or specialist hospital appointments in our capital city.”
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