Labour’s new MP Natalie Elphicke apologises for supporting ex-husband after sex assault conviction
She has now released a statement apologising for supporting her ex-husband, who was her predecessor as MP for Dover, after his sexual assault conviction
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he is "delighted" to welcome Natalie Elphicke to the Labour Party
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Labour MP Natalie Elphicke has apologised for comments she made supporting her ex-husband after he was convicted of sexual assault, following criticism from her new party colleagues.
Concerns had been raised about comments she made after Charlie Elphicke, her predecessor as MP for Dover, was convicted in 2020 of sexually assaulting two women and sentenced to two years in prison.
At the time, she said in an interview with The Sun that being “attractive” and “attracted to women” had made him an “easy target”.
Her recent move to Labour
Just over one year ago Natalie Elphicke said Labour was on the side of illegal immigration and accused Keir Starmer of wanting open borders. Now, she believes Labour is the party to tackle small boat crossings and Sir Keir has welcomed her into his party.
Ms Elphicke, Member of Parliament for Dover and Deal, crossed the floor during yesterday’s Prime Minister’s questions. Her defection has caused a stir in both her old party and her new one.
This is the second recent Tory defection to Labour in recent weeks. Just 13 days ago Dan Poulter, Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich also crossed the floor.
Christian Wakeford was elected as a Tory MP for Bury South in 2019, he defected to Labour in January 2022.
There has now been a total of 3 Tory defections to Labour since the 2019 general election.
Who is Natalie Elphicke?
Ms Elphicke was first elected as MP for Dover and Deal in 2019.
Dover’s previous MP, her ex-husband Charlie Elphicke, was forced to resign after he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault in 2020.
She contested the seat after her ex-husbands arrest and doubled the majority to 12,278 votes.
Ms Elphicke was critical of Labour upon taking her seat in the Commons. Previously saying the party “has not got a plan of their own to tackle illegal immigration. They simply do not want to”.
Ms Elphicke was seen as being on the right of the Conservative party Credit: UK Parliament
On the cost of living crisis, the now Labour MP for Dover said Labour’s solution was to grab “more in taxes from hardworking British people. Same old Labour”.
Ms Elphicke briefly served during Boris Johnson’s premiership. She was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, now the Levelling Up Department in February 2022.
When Mr Johnson resigned as Prime Minister, she backed former Prime Minister Liz Truss for the top job.
What does she believe?
Ms Elphicke has been vocal on tackling illegal immigration, it was her constituency in Dover that Rishi Sunak announced his plan to combat small boat crossings across the channel.
She was considered to be on the right of the Conservative party, joining the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG). She regularly criticised Labour to be untrustworthy on immigration, running the economy and Brexit.
But now the MP has criticised Rishi Sunak for abandoning the centre ground of British politics, accusing the party of going to the right, and ditching key 2019 manifesto commitments.
What has been the reaction?
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” Natalie Elphicke had decided to defect to his party, adding he was “proud to lead a changed Labour party” back in the “service of working people.”
Rosie Duffield, Member of Parliament for Canterbury, excitedly tweeted she was no longer the only Labour MP in Kent.
However, former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has expressed concern. In an interview with LBC, the Labour MP said it was hard to see why Ms Elphicke had joined Labour.
Mr McDonnell told LBC:
I’m a great believer in the power of conversion but even this one would strain the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist quite honestly …
It certainly is a stunt that damages the Tories, there’s no doubt about that, but it has implications for the Labour party as well. Because of the views that Natalie Elphicke has expressed in the past, some of which I don’t think the Labour party should be associated with.
Lord Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, said there were limits to Labour being a broad church, adding Ms Elphicke must now decide if she shares the values of the Labour Party.
Lord Kinnock told BBC Radio 4:
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.
Mrs Elphicke has got to decide whether she is committed to the programme and principles of the Labour Party, broadly defined, generously defined with great liberal intentions, but we are a political party and not a debating club.
Former Tory colleagues have expressed disappointment in her actions.
Veteran Tory and fellow Kent MP, Sir Roger Gale, described her actions as a “monumental demonstration of disloyalty” and a disappointment.
Having given Mrs Elphicke considerable personal support at the time when she most needed it, I think it is fair to say that her monumental demonstration of disloyalty to her former friends warrants mild disappointment!
Sir Roger was one of five Tory MP’s who breached the code of conduct by writing character references to the Senior Judge’s on Charlie Elphicke’s behalf Credit: UK Parliament
Government Minister Steve Baker said he was surprised by the move given she was considered to be on the right of the party.
🤷♂️I have been searching in vain for a Conservative MP who thinks themself to the right of Natalie Elphicke.
😂One just quipped, “I didn’t realise there was any room to her right.”
— Rt Hon Steve Baker MP FRSA 🗽 (@SteveBakerFRSA) May 8, 2024
Why did Ms Elphicke defect?
In a statement shared by the Labour Party on her behalf, she said Mr Sunak was failing to “keep our borders safe and secure”.
She added:
“…the Labour Party has changed out of all recognition. Since 2019, it has moved on from Jeremy Corbyn and now, under Keir Starmer, occupies the centre ground of British politics. It has accepted Brexit and its economic policies and defence policies are responsible and can be trusted.
Most significantly for me, the modern Labour Party looks to the future – to building a Britain of hope, optimism, opportunity and fairness. A Britain everyone can be part of.
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.
That’s why it’s time for change. Time for a Labour Government led by Keir Starmer. The General Election cannot come soon enough.”
Ms Elphicke has said she does not intend to stand as the Labour MP for Dover and Deal at the next general election and will step down.
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HeadlineLabour’s new MP Natalie Elphicke apologises for supporting ex-husband after sex assault conviction
Short HeadlineMP Natalie Elphicke apologises over complains from Labour party over her recent move
StandfirstShe has now released a statement apologising for supporting her ex-husband, who was her predecessor as MP for Dover, after his sexual assault conviction
Labour MP Natalie Elphicke has apologised for comments she made supporting her ex-husband after he was convicted of sexual assault, following criticism from her new party colleagues.
Concerns had been raised about comments she made after Charlie Elphicke, her predecessor as MP for Dover, was convicted in 2020 of sexually assaulting two women and sentenced to two years in prison.
At the time, she said in an interview with The Sun that being “attractive” and “attracted to women” had made him an “easy target”.
Her recent move to Labour
Just over one year ago Natalie Elphicke said Labour was on the side of illegal immigration and accused Keir Starmer of wanting open borders. Now, she believes Labour is the party to tackle small boat crossings and Sir Keir has welcomed her into his party.
Ms Elphicke, Member of Parliament for Dover and Deal, crossed the floor during yesterday’s Prime Minister’s questions. Her defection has caused a stir in both her old party and her new one.
This is the second recent Tory defection to Labour in recent weeks. Just 13 days ago Dan Poulter, Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich also crossed the floor.
Christian Wakeford was elected as a Tory MP for Bury South in 2019, he defected to Labour in January 2022.
There has now been a total of 3 Tory defections to Labour since the 2019 general election.
Who is Natalie Elphicke?
Ms Elphicke was first elected as MP for Dover and Deal in 2019.
Dover’s previous MP, her ex-husband Charlie Elphicke, was forced to resign after he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault in 2020.
She contested the seat after her ex-husbands arrest and doubled the majority to 12,278 votes.
Ms Elphicke was critical of Labour upon taking her seat in the Commons. Previously saying the party “has not got a plan of their own to tackle illegal immigration. They simply do not want to”.
Ms Elphicke was seen as being on the right of the Conservative party Credit: UK Parliament
On the cost of living crisis, the now Labour MP for Dover said Labour’s solution was to grab “more in taxes from hardworking British people. Same old Labour”.
Ms Elphicke briefly served during Boris Johnson’s premiership. She was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, now the Levelling Up Department in February 2022.
When Mr Johnson resigned as Prime Minister, she backed former Prime Minister Liz Truss for the top job.
What does she believe?
Ms Elphicke has been vocal on tackling illegal immigration, it was her constituency in Dover that Rishi Sunak announced his plan to combat small boat crossings across the channel.
She was considered to be on the right of the Conservative party, joining the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG). She regularly criticised Labour to be untrustworthy on immigration, running the economy and Brexit.
But now the MP has criticised Rishi Sunak for abandoning the centre ground of British politics, accusing the party of going to the right, and ditching key 2019 manifesto commitments.
What has been the reaction?
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” Natalie Elphicke had decided to defect to his party, adding he was “proud to lead a changed Labour party” back in the “service of working people.”
Rosie Duffield, Member of Parliament for Canterbury, excitedly tweeted she was no longer the only Labour MP in Kent.
However, former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has expressed concern. In an interview with LBC, the Labour MP said it was hard to see why Ms Elphicke had joined Labour.
Mr McDonnell told LBC:
I’m a great believer in the power of conversion but even this one would strain the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist quite honestly …
It certainly is a stunt that damages the Tories, there’s no doubt about that, but it has implications for the Labour party as well. Because of the views that Natalie Elphicke has expressed in the past, some of which I don’t think the Labour party should be associated with.
Lord Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, said there were limits to Labour being a broad church, adding Ms Elphicke must now decide if she shares the values of the Labour Party.
Lord Kinnock told BBC Radio 4:
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.
Mrs Elphicke has got to decide whether she is committed to the programme and principles of the Labour Party, broadly defined, generously defined with great liberal intentions, but we are a political party and not a debating club.
Former Tory colleagues have expressed disappointment in her actions.
Veteran Tory and fellow Kent MP, Sir Roger Gale, described her actions as a “monumental demonstration of disloyalty” and a disappointment.
Having given Mrs Elphicke considerable personal support at the time when she most needed it, I think it is fair to say that her monumental demonstration of disloyalty to her former friends warrants mild disappointment!
Sir Roger was one of five Tory MP’s who breached the code of conduct by writing character references to the Senior Judge’s on Charlie Elphicke’s behalf Credit: UK Parliament
Government Minister Steve Baker said he was surprised by the move given she was considered to be on the right of the party.
🤷♂️I have been searching in vain for a Conservative MP who thinks themself to the right of Natalie Elphicke.
😂One just quipped, “I didn’t realise there was any room to her right.”
— Rt Hon Steve Baker MP FRSA 🗽 (@SteveBakerFRSA) May 8, 2024
Why did Ms Elphicke defect?
In a statement shared by the Labour Party on her behalf, she said Mr Sunak was failing to “keep our borders safe and secure”.
She added:
“…the Labour Party has changed out of all recognition. Since 2019, it has moved on from Jeremy Corbyn and now, under Keir Starmer, occupies the centre ground of British politics. It has accepted Brexit and its economic policies and defence policies are responsible and can be trusted.
Most significantly for me, the modern Labour Party looks to the future – to building a Britain of hope, optimism, opportunity and fairness. A Britain everyone can be part of.
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.
That’s why it’s time for change. Time for a Labour Government led by Keir Starmer. The General Election cannot come soon enough.”
Ms Elphicke has said she does not intend to stand as the Labour MP for Dover and Deal at the next general election and will step down.
