Backlash over Right-wing Tory MPs defection to Labour

Lord Kinnock led a Labour backlash last night after Right-wing Tory Natalie Elphicke defected to the party.

The Dover MP stunned Westminster yesterday by announcing she was switching to Labour in protest at the Government’s ‘broken promises’.

The defection was designed to damage Rishi Sunak and was unveiled as he arrived in the Commons chamber for Prime Minister’s Questions.

But last night it was threatening to backfire, with senior Labour figures accusing Sir Keir Starmer of turning his party into ‘a dustbin for far-Right Tory politicians’.

Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock (pictured) warned Sir Keir he should be ‘choosy’ when deciding whether to accept defectors known to have hardline Right-wing views 

Natalie Elphicke stunned Westminster yesterday by announcing she was switching to Labour in protest at the Government’s ‘broken promises’. Keir Starmer pictured with Natalie Elphicke

At least one female Labour MP is reported to have made a formal complaint to party whips about the decision

Ms Elphicke was condemned by former colleagues on the Tory benches, with rail minister Huw Merriman branding her a ‘shameless opportunist’.

However, Sir Keir also faced a backlash over his decision to embrace an MP who had branded him ‘Sir Softie’ over his stance on immigration and who defended her former MP husband when he was convicted of sexual assault.

Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock warned Sir Keir he should be ‘choosy’ when deciding whether to accept defectors known to have hardline Right-wing views.

He told the BBC: ‘As far the party is concerned more generally, I think we have got to be choosy to a degree about who we allow to join our party because it’s a very broad church but churches have walls and there are limits.’

In a lengthy statement, Ms Elphicke said Labour had undergone ‘dramatic’ change. Pictured, stunned MPs turn to each other as Ms Elphicke defects to Labour

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell (pictured) branded the move a ‘political stunt’ and warned it could backfire (stock photo)

At least one female Labour MP is reported to have made a formal complaint to party whips about the decision.

Labour MPs privately voiced fears about Sir Keir’s decision to welcome Ms Elphicke. One said: ‘There is a lot of concern about whether we have done our due diligence on this one.’

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded the move a ‘political stunt’ and warned it could backfire as Ms Elphicke has held views on issues like immigration ‘which I don’t think the party should be associated with’.

He told LBC Radio: ‘I’m a great believer in the powers of conversion, but I think even this one would have strained the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist.’

Mish Rahman, a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, said: ‘From Starmer’s decision today, he wants Labour to be a dustbin for far-Right Tory politicians who have inflicted colossal damage on our country. I’d rather beat every Tory… instead Starmer wants them in his Parliamentary party.’

It marks the second Tory defection to Labour in a fortnight, following the switch by former minister Dan Poulter last week.

Ms Elphicke also clashed with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves over the campaign by England footballer Marcus Rashford to secure government funding for free school meals

In a lengthy statement, Ms Elphicke said Labour had undergone ‘dramatic’ change and was now the party of the centre ground while the Conservatives had become ‘a byword for incompetence and division’.

She also accused the Government of failing to stop the boats, adding: ‘It’s clear they have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted.’ Ms Elphicke has said she does not intend to stand for election again in Dover, but a Labour spokesman said she could be given an unpaid role advising the party on housing.

However, Labour has faced a barrage of difficult questions over Ms Elphicke’s views.

In an article last year, she said Labour had ‘got no plan of their own to tackle illegal immigration’ and mocked Sir Keir as ‘Sir Softie’.

She also clashed with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves over the campaign by England footballer Marcus Rashford to secure government funding for free school meals.

When the Tory MP suggested the footballer should have spent more time ‘perfecting his game’ than ‘playing politics’ after he missed a penalty in the Euro 2020 final, Ms Reeves said she should ‘f*** off’.

Ms Elphicke also raised eyebrows with her defence of ex-husband Charlie, who preceded her as Dover MP. After he was jailed for two years for sexual offences, she said he was being punished for being ‘charming, wealthy [and] attractive’.