Latest politics: Labor and Tory MPs alike shocked by latest defection | Politics News

There were different reactions to Natalie Elphicke’s defection to the Labor Party on both sides of the political spectrum.

Acting government minister Steve Baker tweeted that he had “looked in vain for a Conservative MP who sees himself to the right of Natalie Elphicke”.

He said another deputy joked, “I didn’t know there was room to her right.”

On a more serious note, the Northern Ireland minister said he hoped the newest Labor MP would “rule out accepting a peerage under all circumstances”. (She has said she was not offered anything by Labor in return for her defection.)

One of the Tory Party’s most right-wing MPs, Andrea Jenkyns, tweeted a graphic of previous comments from “Labour’s newest recruit” – you can read that below…

“It has nothing in common with Labor”

Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale expressed his personal sadness at Ms Elphicke’s defection, writing: “Having given Ms Elphicke considerable personal support at the time when she needed it most, I can justifiably say that this is a monumental display of disloyalty to her. “Former friends are a slight disappointment!”

He added that she had “absolutely nothing in common” with Starmer’s Labor Party or any previous version, adding that he would “like to believe that she will not be dishonorable enough to accept a peerage from the Labor leader.” .

“I prefer not to speak…”

On the Labor side, the reaction was somewhat more muted – although we understand that there is some dissatisfaction within the parliamentary party.

Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall, tweeted eye and confused face emojis as well as a GIF of legendary football manager Jose Mourinho’s famous quote: “I prefer not to speak. If I speak, I’ll be in big trouble.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement…

But to make it even more celebratory, Labour’s Rosie Duffield excitedly tweeted: “No longer the only Labor MP in Kent!!!”

She also couldn’t resist taking a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer, whom she accuses of ignoring her concerns about women’s and trans rights.

The Canterbury MP said she had been the victim of threats for denying transgender women access to single-sex spaces such as domestic violence shelters, school toilets and prisons.

In 2021, Sir Keir said she was wrong when she said: “Only women have a cervix” – but earlier this year he changed his mind on that.

“At least one woman from Kent got a meeting,” Ms Duffield tweeted today, with a picture of Sir Keir chatting to Ms Elphicke in his office.

And as we previously reported, Stephen Flynn, leader of the SNP at Westminster, today criticized Sir Keir for welcoming “one of the most right-wing politicians in Parliament” (see post 15.15).