Starmer welcomes Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour

       0 seconds of 51 seconds Volume 90%

       Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled

       Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?

       Play/Pause SPACE

       Increase Volume ↑

       Decrease Volume ↓

       Seek Forward →

       Seek Backward ←

       Captions On/Off c

       Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f

       Mute/Unmute m

       Decrease Caption Size -

       Increase Caption Size + or =

       Seek % 0-9

       Next Up

       This Morning: Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley discuss fashion segment

       00:51

       twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/4HB7As1b Copied

       Live

       00:00

       00:51

       00:51

       More Videos

       00:51

       This Morning: Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley discuss fashion segment

       00:46

       Jamie Oliver explains secret ingredient to make gravy delicious

       01:01

       Bananas: Experts explain how to keep the fruit fresh

       01:28

       A Place in the Sun: Ben pleased with reaction to first property

       00:53

       Prince Charles' 'lecturing' criticised by GMB panelist

       00:48

       King Charles 'does not trust' Harry says GMB panelist

       Close

       Rishi Sunak has been rocked by a second Tory MP defecting to Labour, just two minutes before he rose to his feet for PMQs.

       In a statement this lunchtime, Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said: "Today I announce that I have decided to join the Labour Party and that I will sit in Parliament as a Labour MP.”

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Link Sponsored Link

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Health Insight Journаl

       Leave Furosemide Behind: This New Device Helps Drain Lymphedemа Fluid (Works Fast)Health Insight Journаl Learn More

       She went on to accuse Mr Sunak of ousting Boris Johnson in a “coup” and turning the Conservative Party into a “byword for incompetence and division”.

       She praised the Labour Party for changing “out of all recognition” and said she looks forward to moving on “from the broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic Government”.

       In a particular blow for the Prime Minister, Ms Elphicke’s Dover constituency is on the frontline of the battle to stop small boat crossings.

       Sponsored

       LifeHackGuru

       LifeHackGuruPlace an Ice Cube on a Burger When Grilling, Here's Why

       by Taboola by Taboola

       READ MORE: Dan Poulter quits Tories and joins Labour in huge blow for Rishi Sunak

       Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Natalie Elphicke accused 'unelected' Rishi Sunak of launching a 'coup' against Boris Johnson (Image: Getty)

       The now-former Tory MP said Mr Sunak “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.”

       A beaming Keir Starmer delighted in welcoming Ms Elphicke to his side of the Commons at PMQs.

       He warmly welcomed Labour’s new MP for Dover, asking: “If one week a Tory MP who is also a doctor says the PM can’t be trusted with the NHS and joins Labour, and the next week the Tory MP for Dover - on the front line of the small boats crisis - says the PM cannot be trusted with our borders and joins Labour, what is the point of this failed Government staggering on?”

       Ms Elphicke’s shock decision comes just one week after another Tory MP, Dan Poulter, defected to Labour.

       Don't miss...

       Robert Jenrick backs Farage Tory return as he demands huge migration crackdown [WATCH]

       Europe follows Britain’s lead! EU leaders move to copy Rwanda-type deals [EXCLUSIVE]

       Labour MP flounders as he’s asked to name one flagship Labour policy [LATEST]

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Just last week another Tory MP, Dan Poulter, also defected to Labour (Image: Getty)

       Mr Poulter, a part-time NHS doctor as well as MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said he could no longer look his NHS colleagues and patients in the eye.

       “I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients.”

       Three days ago the Huffington Post reported that two more MPs may defect to Labour, suggesting one more could still cross the floor before the General Election.

       Prior to Mr Poulter, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford defected from the Tories to Labour while Boris Johnson was still PM, citing the Partygate scandal.

       Trending

       HuffPo said that a “handful” of Tory MPs are understood to have held talks with opposition officials about switching sides.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Meet the man dubbed 'next Gandhi' hoping to oust Narendra Modi in India's election

       3 Comments

       Commons erupts as Rishi Sunak makes PMQs dig over Angela Rayner police probe

       293 Comments

       Robert Jenrick backs Nigel Farage Tory return as he demands huge migration crackdown

       159 Comments

       Tory rebels kill plot to oust Rishi Sunak with one joking 'we're off down the pub'

       175 Comments

       Nigel Farage slams Natalie Elphicke's 'utter rubbish' and suggests real reason she quit

       644 Comments

       Rishi Sunak humiliated as new poll gives Labour its biggest lead since Liz Truss

       955 Comments

       Meet the man dubbed 'next Gandhi' hoping to oust Narendra Modi in India's election

       3 Comments

       Commons erupts as Rishi Sunak makes PMQs dig over Angela Rayner police probe

       293 Comments

       Robert Jenrick backs Nigel Farage Tory return as he demands huge migration crackdown

       159 Comments

       Tory rebels kill plot to oust Rishi Sunak with one joking 'we're off down the pub'

       175 Comments

       Nigel Farage slams Natalie Elphicke's 'utter rubbish' and suggests real reason she quit

       644 Comments

       Rishi Sunak humiliated as new poll gives Labour its biggest lead since Liz Truss

       955 Comments

       Meet the man dubbed 'next Gandhi' hoping to oust Narendra Modi in India's election

       3 Comments

       Commons erupts as Rishi Sunak makes PMQs dig over Angela Rayner police probe

       293 Comments

       The news, just moments before PMQs, was another blow for the beleaguered PM, coming after hundreds of losses at the local elections.

       Mr Sunak suffered the third biggest swing from the Tories to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election, as well as losing the prized West Midlands mayoralty by just 1,400 votes.

       Tory rebels have said that it’s too late to move against Mr Sunak and install a replacement, however, with Suella Braverman saying he must own the crisis.

       Related articles Furious Nigel Farage erupts at Rishi Sunak over China after MoD cyber attack Fiery GB News debate over Union flag after Eurovision contestant sparks row Sadiq Khan under fire for 'utterly wrong' comments over Israel-Hamas conflict Rees-Mogg issues grave warning to Tories and sets out only way to win election Commons erupts as Rishi Sunak makes PMQs dig over Angela Rayner police probe