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
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
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.
‘United fans, look away now'
Rishi Sunak teased Manchester United fans yesterday while on a visit to Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace defeated United 4-0 on Monday.
“United fans, look away now,” the prime minister wrote on X.
“Fantastic to meet the @PalaceForLife team at @CPFC today.
“Football changes lives and it’s great to see initiatives like this bringing communities together.”
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick urges Rishi to win back ‘on strike’ voters
Rishi Sunak needs to win back Tory voters who have gone “on strike” because of the failure to curb immigration and tackle extremism, former minister Robert Jenrick said.
The Prime Minister needs to ensure Conservatives who stayed at home rather than vote in the local elections came back to the ballot box at the national contest later this year.
The Newark MP, who has produced a paper on measures to curb net migration, said: “What I’ve tried to set out are a series of policies that could be implemented before the general election, such as what I’m saying today on legal migration, which would convince some of those Conservative voters – who are essentially on strike – to come back and support the party at the general election.
“And also to persuade some of those voters who are considering voting Reform that we do care about the issues that they do, which are principally immigration, but also on crime, on extremism and on lower taxes.
“But that will require honesty, it requires levelling with the public about the mistakes of the past and using every last minute we have in office before the general election to actually deliver positive change for the public.”
ICYMI: Mel Stride dodges question over NHS waiting lists as he’s grilled on benefits crackdown
Mel Stride dodges NHS waiting list question as he’s grilled on benefits crackdown
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride was put on the spot about NHS waiting lists as he was grilled on changes to benefits in the UK. The Tory minister was grilled on the government’s WorkWell scheme, which includes a review of payments to people with mental health conditions, when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (7 May). Presenter Susana grilled Mr Stride after a woman was forced to pay for her own hip replacement as she could not wait 18 months for surgery and could not work because of the pain. Mr Stride replied: “I can’t comment on the specific example.”
John Swinney takes the oath as Scotland’s first minister
The Perthshire North MSP has officially become Scotland’s seventh first minister after pledging his alliance to the king.
The ceremony was presided by Lord President Lord Carloway at the Court Session in Edinburgh.
Swinney, 60, has now the authority to make decisions and lead the country with the support of the Scottish parliament.
He attended the ceremony with his wife Elizabeth, his 13-year-old son Matthew and brother David.
Mr Swinney said it is an “extraordinary privilege” to become Scotland’s new First Minister as he pledged to “give everything I have” to the role, after winning the selection process on Tuesday.
Rachel Reeves says Tories are ‘gaslighting’ Britain over the economy. What would Labour do?
Keir Starmer has promised a ‘decade of renewal’ but his chancellor will have a hard job funding it, says Sean O’Grady.
Read the piece in full here:
Reeves says Tories are ‘gaslighting’ Britain over the economy. What would Labour do?
Keir Starmer has promised a ‘decade of renewal’ but his chancellor will have a hard job funding it, says Sean O’Grady
Workers Party Monty Panesar withdraws from general election
The former England cricketer has revealed he is stepping down to reconsider his personal and political values.
Panesar was set to stand for George Galloway‘s Workers Party at the general election.
He was due to rival Labour in the Ealing, Southall seat in west London, which currently boasts a majority of 16,084.
PMQs starting shortly
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.
We’ll bring you all the action as Sunak and Starmer face off at the first Prime Minister’s Questions since the local elections.
You can also watch it live on our YouTube channel (link below).
Stay tuned for all the latest updates from Westminster and elsewhere.
Watch live as Sunak faces Starmer at first PMQs after Tory local election losses
Watch live as Rishi Sunak faces Sir Keir Starmer in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 8 May.
Tory MP Natalie Elphicke has just crossed the floor ahead of PMQs to defect to Labour
The session has now started.
Rishi Sunak faces questions over vaping
SNP Kristen Oswald asks the Prime Minister about youth vaping.
Sunak responds the government “should do more to tackle vaping”.
He adds advertising of vapes is already restricted on TV and radio.
Starmer welcomes Elphicke to Labour
Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Natalie Elphicke to Labour, asking Rishi 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".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.