Labour defends welcoming rightwing Tory MP Natalie Elphicke into party – UK politics live

Dover MP hit out at ‘broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government’ as she defected to Labour moments before PMQs

Starmer welcomes Natalie Elphicke after Labour MP defects from Conservatives

Ms Elphicke has defected hitting out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic Government”.

The Dover MP astonishingly crossed the floor in the Commons just moments before Prime Minister’s Questions.

She said in a statement: “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.”

The move has been hit at from all sides, with MPs slamming Sir Keir Starmer for welcoming the right wing politician with open arms and Tory members branding the decision “idiotic”.

Despite ferocious criticism, Labour has defended Ms Elphicke and said it is “happy” to have the Tory MP on board.

In a new humiliating blow for Rishi, Ms Elphickle joins Dr Dan Poulter and Christian Wakeford in joining the opposition.

The walk-out was took place during the first face off since last week’s local election results, where Sir Keir Starmer hit out at the Conservatives for losing nearly 500 council seats in last week’s elections.

Key Points

• Sunak and Starmer clash in first PMQs since Tory local election
• Natalie Elphicke crosses floor in dramatic defection to Labour before PMQs
• Labour defends welcoming Natalie Elphicke to party
• Suspended Labour MP gets whip back
• Senior Russian diplomat expelled from UK over spying

[8 May 2024 18:45 · Salma Ouaguira]

Jackie Doyle-Price elected new chair of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Dame Jackie Doyle Price MP, said:“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead the Committee in its work examining constitutional issues and the quality and standards of public administration.

“Respect for our institutions of Government requires that we subject them to robust challenge. I look forward to chairing the Committee’s ongoing inquiries into the important constitutional issues of the day, including devolution capability in Whitehall, membership of the House of Lords, and Civil Service Leadership and Reform.

“I intend to use the time left in this Parliament to ensure that the necessary questions are asked to uphold good governance and appropriate cultural behaviour within the institutions of government.”

[8 May 2024 19:20 · Salma Ouaguira]

Comment: Elphicke’s defection was handled with brutal efficiency

Labour’s latest defector makes an unlikely left-winger, but shows that Keir Starmer is totally ruthless, writes John Rentoul.

The move was a brutal operation to demolish Sunak’s crumbling power.

[8 May 2024 20:05 · Salma Ouaguira]

Comment: The economy is getting better. Will it be enough to save the Tories?

Thanks to the Liz Truss mini-Budget disaster, the Conservatives can no longer claim to be the party of economic competence, writes Andrew Grice.

But an election campaign based on the economy is still their best hope of avoiding annihilation.

[8 May 2024 20:55 · Salma Ouaguira]

Keir Starmer refuses to comment on Natalie Elphicke’s remarks about ex-husband’s victims

Sir Keir Starmer declined to comment on Natalie Elphicke‘s past remarks about Charlie Elphicke‘s conviction for sexually assaulting two women.

Her then-husband, the former MP for Dover, was jailed for two years in 2020.

In an interview with The Sun, Ms Elphicke defended him, saying he was “attractive, and attracted to, women” and that that made him “an easy target for dirty politics and false allegations”, claiming he was the victim of a “terrible miscarriage of justice”.

When pressed on Ms Elphicke’s remarks on Wednesday, 8 May, the Labour leader declined to comment and said: “I’m delighted to welcome Natalie Elphicke to the Labour party.

“She’s got a strong track record on issues such as housing.”

[8 May 2024 21:40 · Salma Ouaguira]

Watch: Tory minister Laura Trott brands MP a ‘Brexit zombie’

Tory minister Laura Trott branded an MP a ‘Brexit zombie’ during a heated Commons debate on car insurance prices on Wednesday (7 May).

Addressing the Commons, SNP MP Drew Hendry said: “Prices for car insurance have more than doubled in the UK compared to an 18 percent rise across the EU.

“What is the reason? Is it Brexit, shameless profiteering or has Westminster just given up on people in the cost of living crisis.”

“Why is the government doing absolutely nothing to hold insurance companies to account?

Ms Trott replied: “I think we’ve heard enough from the Brexit zombies.”

[8 May 2024 22:20 · Salma Ouaguira]

The Independent View: Catastrophic local election results reveal how futile it would be for Sunak to tack hard right

The prime minister must not be seduced by the whisperings of his party’s extreme cabal – reclaiming the centre ground is his only salvation if he wishes to compete at the general election.