Official parliamentary records or major news outlets

Natalie Elphicke Defects to Labour, Reducing Tory Majority to 37

May 9, 2024, 02:10 AM

Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, has defected to the Labour Party, marking the second Tory MP to switch sides in two weeks. Elphicke criticized the current government's inability to secure borders and accused Rishi Sunak of leading a 'coup' against Boris Johnson. Her defection has reduced the Conservative majority in Parliament significantly, from 80 seats to just 37. The Labour Party welcomed her, emphasizing that under Keir Starmer's leadership, the party represents the center ground of politics, which Elphicke now identifies with. However, her move has sparked mixed reactions within Labour, with some members questioning her alignment with the party's values given her past conservative stances and controversial actions.