Read Tory MP Natalie Elphicke’s defection statement as backlash grows

The Member of Parliament from Dover and Deal, Natalie Elphicke, has declared that she will be leaving the Conservative party and joining the Labour party.

Many people will perceive Labour leader Keir Starmer's recent accomplishment as a major victory, following Tory MP Dan Poulter's defection less than two weeks ago. A member of the Conservative party informed The Times that this was a big mistake on the part of their party's enforcers.

The choice has caused disapproval from those on the political left. Kevin Maguire of The Mirror has questioned whether it is a "step too far". Campaign groups with left-wing views and even some shadow ministers have supposedly criticized the decision to allow Elphicke to join. This is due to the various contentious positions she has taken on issues such as immigration, sexual assault, climate change, and Marcus Rashford.

According to reliable sources from LabourList, it has been confirmed that the present candidate for Dover and Deal, Mike Tapp, will stay in his position while Elphicke is stepping down ahead of the election.

According to Tapp, it is only the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, along with Yvette Cooper, that can effectively guarantee the safety of the borders. This is the reason why a lot of people who previously identified as Conservatives are now turning towards the Labour Party.

When PMQs were about to start, Natalie Elphicke made a dramatic decision to switch sides.

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Josh Gafson shared a tweet on May 8, 2024.

Before the Prime Minister's Questions, Elphicke released a statement through Labour officials to cause the most political harm possible. After that, she sat behind Starmer during the PMQs. The statement says:

I am pleased to share with you all that I have made the choice to become a member of the Labour Party and will be taking my seat in Parliament as a representative of this party.

Back in 2019 when I became a politician, the Conservative Party held the position of being the central force in British politics. Our primary focus was on constructing a better future for our nation and taking advantage of the opportunities that were presented to us.

Since that time, numerous things have transformed. The chosen leader of the government was removed from office in a takeover conducted by the unselected Rishi Sunak. The Tories have become known for being unable to perform as a team and being separated under Rishi Sunak's supervision. The midway position has been relinquished, and essential commitments made in the 2019 agenda have been disregarded.

In the meantime, the Labour Party has undergone a significant transformation. Following 2019, it has progressed beyond Jeremy Corbyn and presently, with Keir Starmer as their leader, the party now holds the central position within British politics. They have acknowledged Brexit and their financial and military policies are reliable and credible.

For me, the current Labour Party is focused on the years to come, on constructing a bright future for Britain, one where there is room for hope, positivity, opportunities, and equal treatment. A Britain that welcomes all.

I have thought about this choice carefully. It's a big transformation and it can't be overlooked. For me, the most important things to consider were the availability of housing and the protection of our borders to ensure safety and security.

Rishi Sunak's government is facing criticism for not being able to maintain the safety and security of our borders. The increasing number of small boat arrivals has put many lives at risk in the English Channel. The situation is alarming as the government has not been able to keep our borders secure, which is a major cause for concern. Their incompetency raises questions about their reliability in terms of securing our borders.

The government of Rishi Sunak is not successfully constructing enough homes for our needs when it comes to housing. England experienced the biggest drop in new home construction in one year since the credit crisis. The manifesto stated that 300,000 homes would be constructed the following year - however, only a little more than half that number will be built. Renters and leaseholders have been deceived as the promises made in the manifesto to prevent evictions without justification and abolish rents based on the land have not been followed through.

Over the past few years, homelessness has greatly increased. Many individuals are forced to live in temporary accommodation or even on the streets. Shockingly, there are now more children than ever before who lack a stable home and are residing in temporary housing.

At the same time, the Labour party aims to construct appropriate housing, provide assistance for the younger generation to own homes, and demonstrate concern for those who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness. It is a great privilege for me that Keir and his colleagues have requested my assistance in achieving our housing goals.

It is necessary to move forward from the unfulfilled commitments made by Rishi Sunak's exhausted and disorganized government. The United Kingdom requires a government that will construct a promising, positive, and equal future for all. A future in which every individual can partake in and seize the opportunities that are yet to come. Due to this, there is a need for a transformation. A transformation that is led by Keir Starmer and the Labour Government; therefore, we cannot eagerly wait for the General Election to arrive.

The declaration made by politics lecturer Tim Bale on X was somewhat unexpected. However, there is uncertainty regarding what impact it will have on the position of Labour regarding small boats/migrants.

Steve Baker, a member of the Conservative Party, expressed that he has been unable to find any colleague who considers themselves to be politically more right-wing than Natalie Elphicke.

A member of Parliament's opposition party stated to Politico that individuals such as Elphicke should not be accepted into the Labour party. The shadow minister also expressed that the said person's beliefs would be better suited for Reform.

Jenny Symmons, who works for the Labour Party and leads the GMB branch that represents members' staff, expressed her disappointment over the defection. She stated that it was a very bad move and that Labour had accepted this person into their party without ensuring they meet the required standards to represent the party. Symmons contacted the chief whip to arrange a meeting to discuss how the party's officials vet people who want to become Labour MPs.

According to a representative from Compass, the Labour party is enforcing strict regulations when it comes to managing its own leftist members. Yet, they seem to be unconcerned about former Tories, who do not align with their values, joining the party. This sort of approach only favors one side and it erodes the public's faith in politics.

A representative for Momentum expressed disapproval of a conservative politician being involved in a Labour Party that holds true to its values. They also criticized Keir Starmer for accepting this individual while neglecting Diane Abbott.

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