Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced questions from Keir Starmer about the Government’s sustainability on Wednesday (May 8) after another Tory MP quit to join Labour.
Dover MP Natalie Elphicke crossed the aisle moments before Prime Minister's Questions, saying the Conservatives “cannot be trusted” to “keep our borders secure”.
Her defection comes days after Dr Dan Poulter quit the blue corner for the red, stating that the NHS motivated his switch.
It capped a bad few days for Mr Sunak, whose party lost control of councils and the Blackpool by-election to Labour.
Dover is a swing seat, having been with Labour under Gwyn Prosser throughout the Tony Blair years — making it a rare non-Tory stronghold in Kent.
Ms Elphicke had already confirmed she would be standing down before the next election — meaning Labour can still field its proposed candidate, Mike Tapp.
It means that a dynasty that has lasted as long as the Tory Government will end with Dover residents unable to vote for someone called Elphicke for the first time since 2005.
As the last sentence suggested, there is more to the story!
Who is Natalie Elphicke?
Elphicke, 53, is perhaps one of the least likely Tories you would have thought would have joined Labour.
Only two years ago, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told her to “f*** off” for criticising England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.
How times have changed.
Ms Elphicke has had lengthy involvement with the Conservative Party, having worked in think tanks. Before entering politics, Ms Elphicke worked as a solicitor specialisng in real estate law.
Things changed when Charlie Elphicke, her husband since 1995 and father of her two children, became MP for Dover at the 2010 general election.
However, he became engulfed in a scandal after being arrested, charged, and eventually convicted of three counts of sexual assault. He was jailed for two years. On the day of the conviction, Ms Elphicke tweeted to say that their 25-year marriage was over.
In 2019, she succeeded her then-husband and defended the Dover seat for the Conservatives.
Today’s verdict is one that brings profound sorrow. It ends my 25 year marriage to the only man I have ever loved.
— Natalie Elphicke MP (@NatalieElphicke) July 30, 2020
I would ask for some personal space and time to come to terms with the shocking events of the last 3 years.
I will not be commenting further.
Since then, she has campaigned heavily about the “stop the boats” policy of Mr Sunak. She has also backed the Tory scheme to deport migrants to Rwanda.
During Euro 2020 held in 2021 due to the pandemic, she sent a private message criticising Rashford — who had campaigned for free school meals — after he missed a penalty in England’s defeat to Italy in the final.
She wrote: "They lost — would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics."
This led Ms Reeves to say she should “f*** off”.
But all might be forgiven she has bumped the Labour benches up to 204 MPs.
“Labour plan to build the homes we need, help young people onto the housing ladder and care about the vulnerable and homeless,” she said of her decision to cross the party divide. “That's why I'm honoured to have been asked to work with Keir and the team to help deliver the homes we need.
"We need to move on from the broken promises of Rishi Sunak's tired and chaotic government. Britain needs a government that will build a future of hope, optimism, opportunity and fairness.
"A Britain everyone can be part of, that will make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. That's why it's time for change. Time for a Labour government led by Keir Starmer.
"The general election cannot come soon enough."
