‘Labour has already begun conversations with the subsequent Tory MPs who may defect’

When I got the WhatsApp message from a Labour adviser tipping me off that Natalie Elphicke had just crossed the floor of the House of the Commons, my first question was: “To who?”

I presumed the MP for Dover, who has been vocal on immigration, had followed Lee Anderson in jumping for the Tories to Reform.

But in a move timed for maximum impact just minutes before Prime Minister’s Questions, she had defected to Labour, taking her place on the green benches just behind Keir Starmer.

The Cabinet ministers lined up alongside Rishi Sunak on the Tory frontbench opposite appeared not to have noticed either. Penny Mordaunt, Oliver Dowden and Jeremy Hunt already looked grim-faced as they sat braced for the PM to be mocked over the local elections, which saw the Conservative Party suffer its worst result in 40 years. Their stoney expressions turned to shock as the Labour leader welcomed his newest MP.

As a moment of parliamentary theatre it was brilliantly executed. But there are many people on the Labour side equally surprised that Ms Elphicke would make such a move – and that their party would accept her.

After her husband Charlie Elphicke was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women in 2020, she defended him, saying he was “attractive, and attracted to, women”.

When Marcus Rashford missed a crucial penalty in the Euro 2020 final, she cruelly remarked that he should have “spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics” by campaigning for free school meals.

More recently in what No10 is already describing as a “treasure trove” of tweets and newspaper articles, she has criticised Labour’s immigration plans, even dubbing Mr Starmer as “Sir Softie”.

But expect the party to use her defection relentlessly in the run up to the election. In her statement explaining her switch, the MP – whose constituency is on the frontline of the Channel small boats crisis – warned that Mr Sunak’s Government is “failing to keep our borders safe and secure”. Ms Elphicke, who worked in housing before becoming an MP, added that the Tories are “failing to build the homes we need”.

No doubt, swing voters in Conservative-held seats will soon be getting letters through their doors penned by Ms Elphicke explaining why she is now backing Labour – and they should too.

It was only a fortnight ago that Dr Dan Poulter announced he too was switching from the Tories to Labour because of his concerns about the state of the NHS.

Mr Starmer’s team have already begun conversations with other MPs who could make the jump. Party sources say it won’t be a “flood” and they have “not got someone lined up for next week”, but do not be surprised if there are more defections to come.