Admitting Elphicke leaves some in Labour asking how far Starmer will go

The only people more shocked and upset than the Conservatives about Elphicke’s move were Labour MPs. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The look on Penny Mordaunt’s face was one of disbelief as she watched Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, take her seat for prime minister’s questions just behind Keir Starmer on the Labour benches.

After a few moments, the Commons leader got up from the frontbench and crept along to where Rishi Sunak was waiting beside the speaker’s chair, whispering urgently in his ear to prepare him for the unwelcome surprise.