Natalie Elphicke, the former Conservative MP for Dover, has defected to the Labour Party. Her defection has sparked significant controversy, with allegations surfacing that she lobbied ministers, including Robert Buckland, in 2020 to intervene in her then-husband Charlie Elphicke's sexual assault trial. Both Labour and Conservative parties are facing calls to investigate these claims. Labour's Jonathan Ashworth has denied any deal was made to offer Elphicke a peerage for her defection. Foreign Secretary David Cameron criticized Labour's acceptance of Elphicke, calling it 'naked opportunism.' Elphicke has denied the lobbying allegations, but the issue has led to widespread political fallout, with figures from both parties questioning her motives and the implications of her defection. Keir Starmer's decision to accept Elphicke into Labour has been particularly scrutinized.
📻 Why did Starmer think #NatalieElphicke was a good fit for his party? 📻 How come the allegations against her only surfaced when she joined #Labour ? @AdamBienkov @brokenbottleboy join @GoldbergRadio From @BylineTimes https://t.co/QdZ5whL5hR
"There are a number of painful and probably fatal things I'd rather do than defect to the Labour Party." Keir Starmer's acceptance of Natalie Elphicke into Labour is "grubby" says @JohnnyMercerUK speaking to @JPonPolitics on #TimesRadio 📻 https://t.co/GhxziUHKt0 https://t.co/zxYbVWR06s
'On so many levels it so inconceivably stupid! Natalie Elphicke doesn't bring anything to the Labour Party besides baggage and lots of people will be questioning his political judgement.' Jo Phillips reacts to Natalie Elphicke's Labour defection. https://t.co/DOFJLDWSQM
'On so many levels it so inconceivably stupid! Natalie Elphicke doesn't bring anything to the Labour Party besides baggage and lots of people will be questioning her political judgement.' Jo Phillips reacts to Natalie Elphicke's Labour defection. https://t.co/bmpvfQlE1k
Labour MP Rosie Duffield has called for the party to suspend Natalie Elphicke while investigating lobbying claims. Tap below to read more: https://t.co/2HrAFBnSM3
🚨 NEW: Labour MP Rosie Duffield calls on Keir Starmer to suspend Tory defector Natalie Elphicke from Labour
BREAK: Labour MP @RosieDuffield1 says Natalie Elphicke should have the whip suspended while investigation takes place into our revelation that the Dover MP lobbied the justice secretary over her then husband’s sexual assault trial. https://t.co/6BYovlUd3F https://t.co/1izWPTdFBD
Keir Starmer under attack from all sides over Natalie Elphicke's defection from Tories to Labour as Rishi Sunak brands him 'unprincipled' and unions slam her for blaming deaths on striking firefighters https://t.co/huOXYUi9a4 https://t.co/PyXZUWCiL3
.@RishiSunak hit out at “unprincipled” Sir @Keir_Starmer over the defection of MP Natalie Elphicke ✍️: @DavidHughesPA, @cjmckeon and @sophie_wing8 https://t.co/RjMLGobVkk
Starmer is ‘utterly unprincipled’ over Elphicke defection, says Sunak. During his speech this morning, the Prime Minister accused Sir Keir Starmer of a complete lack of principles after Dover MP Natalie Elphicke’s defection to Labour. Read more https://t.co/3JkSPmMGX1 https://t.co/TwPfzrwVBC
Labour defends Natalie Elphicke after claims of lobbying over husband’s trial https://t.co/dLDppxzanZ
Does Rishi Sunak really want to play the 'Keir Starmer backed Jeremy Corbyn for PM' game? https://t.co/85VvmLqDxS
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak claims it is becoming "increasingly clear" to people that Keir Starmer "doesn't stand for anything" "This is someone who went from embracing Jeremy Corybyn to embracing Natalie Elphicke - it just tells you that you can't trust what the guys says"
This line from Rishi Sunak helps Labour: “Keir Starmer has gone from embracing Jeremy Corbyn to Natalie Elphicke” Keir Starmer’s most important sell to voters is that he has changed his party. And hearing his opponent spell it out like this does the work for him.
"Keir Starmer has gone from embracing Jeremy Corbyn to Natalie Elphicke, all in the cynical pursuit of power at any price." Rishi Sunak says Labour has no ideas for the future, despite being in opposition for 14-years. @RishiSunak | @Keir_Starmer https://t.co/0X1Mz4sKCZ
Sunak takes swipe at KS: ‘he embraces Jeremy Corbyn and then Natalie Elphicke all in the singular pursuit of power at any price’
“Keir Starmer has gone from embracing Jeremy Corbyn to embracing Natalie Elphicke” says @RishiSunak https://t.co/bfMEu50nKc
PM getting some election lines in: “Keir Starmer has gone from embracing Jeremy Corbyn to Natalie Elphicke”
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to allow an independent investigation into claims that the new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke tried to lobby a minister over her then-husband’s trial for sexual assault ⬇️ https://t.co/kpV34Qb3zD
Did the Tory Party care about Natalie Elphicke lobbying for her sex assaulting husband? No, it kept quiet for four years. Would the Tory Party accept a defecting Labour unsavoury Hard Left MP? Yes. She's a Con too far, Starmer should've said No, but spare us Tory hypocrisy.
Both Labour and Tories back probe into claims defector MP Natalie Elphicke lobbied minister over ex-husband's sex offences trial https://t.co/KgkUpv2dAP
🔴 Labour should launch an investigation over claims Natalie Elphicke lobbied ministers to intervene in her ex-husband’s sex assault trial, a Tory frontbencher suggested this morning. Follow the latest on our live blog 👇 https://t.co/dti5dHe6Ch https://t.co/OOQLHkRibK
"We all recognise there is an ulterior motive for her crossing the floor to Labour." Health minister Maria Caulfield says that Natalie Elphicke 'let down her constituents' when she defected to Labour. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/fU7fhFJMb5
Chris Bryant on Natalie Elphicke lobbying Robert Buckland. "So if anyone should be being investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards... frankly, it should be Robert Buckland..." https://t.co/NB9ADJ2O3V
Labour came under pressure on Sunday from its own MPs to investigate Natalie Elphicke over claims she lobbied ministers to intervene in her ex-husband’s sex assault trial. https://t.co/0Irx3OgfDv
ICYMI: Earlier today on Sunday With @Lewis_Goodall, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth was quizzed on Natalie Elphicke, who defected from the right-wing of the Tory party to join Keir Starmer. Watch the spirited debate now on @GlobalPlayer.
ICYMI: Earlier today on Sunday with @lewis_goodall, Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth was hesitant when quizzed on the defection of 'far-right' Tory MP Natalie Elphicke to Keir Starmer's Party. Watch the spirited debate in full now on @GlobalPlayer.
"If this was a spy drama, this would be the opening scene." "It's clear that Elphicke's politics are to the far-right of Starmer, we don't know what will happen in the elections because she's too confusing." Politico's @annemcelvoy discusses the defection @RachelSJohnson. https://t.co/ycKoRnjI8T
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth SQUIRMS during grilling on Natalie Elphicke peerage offer: 'We don't do deals!' https://t.co/r8dm6om3Rg via @cheyenne_post
"We need more people like this to join Labour" "This doesn't seem like a new beginning" @CarolVorders debates caller Alison, who supports Labour's acceptance of Natalie Elphicke, over whether the move has 'damaged faith' in the party. https://t.co/j76uFXu4Fq
Labour's new MP Natalie Elphicke has denied lobbying ministers over her then-husband's sexual assault case in 2020. But why is it in the news now? Listen to the latest #BBCNewscast
"I am absolutely fuming, I think Labour have shot themselves in the foot." @carolvorders sets her stall on Natalie Elphickle's defection from the Tory party. https://t.co/tvCKy0pf1q
🔵 Lord Cameron has branded Natalie Elphicke’s defection from the Tories as “naked opportunism” by Labour https://t.co/RoUJWi1ElI
'We all have to be mindful of the sorts of things we say in election campaigns.' Jonathan Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South refuses to confirm whether Labour will be investigating the claims that Natalie Elphicke lobbied ministers. #TimesRadio https://t.co/BefiTGwcMh
'He now finds himself and the party in this slightly absurd position of having to defend a pretty hard-right MP against allegations of improper behaviour.' Matthew Stadlen discusses the defection of Natalie Elphicke to Labour and Keir Starmer’s handling of it. https://t.co/YaMEQdz4OG
Ex-Tory Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying ministers over former husband https://t.co/JwWTJojb4D
“Traitors never sleep.” Natalie Elphicke will be ‘despised’ by her old party and ‘not trusted’ by her new one, minister Andrew Mitchell tells @Lewis_Goodall. https://t.co/JX3PUscHqu
'He cared far less about the rule of law and victims of sexual violence when it wasn't politically expedient for him.' @jessphillips tells @Lewis_Goodall that 'questions must be answered' after Natalie Elphicke allegedly tried to lobby Robert Buckland over ex-husband's trial. https://t.co/k4tPf6UMNm
"People who turn their coat in this way, people who are traitors to the party...don't tend to sleep well." Natalie Elphicke is a "traitor" who will never be trusted by Labour, says Andrew Mitchell, Deputy Foreign Secretary. @KateEMcCann | @AdamBoultonTABB | @AndrewmitchMP https://t.co/8K1Ij3OwyV
Jess Phillips calls for independent investigation into Natalie Elphicke lobbying claims https://t.co/DHtkSOi3RD
“I have trashed your legacy and trashed your Tory seat.” Dr Renee Hoenderkamp on why she believes Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour. The MP for Dover has been accused of lobbying ministers over her then-husbands sexual assault trial. @cristo_radio | @drhoenderkamp | #Talk
Lord Cameron has branded Natalie Elphicke’s defection from the Tories as “naked opportunism” by Labour. https://t.co/UjpCVYaIQA
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth SQUIRMS during grilling on Natalie Elphicke peerage offer: 'We don't do deals!' https://t.co/sYgADNln24
"There is an opportunity to have a conversation that I would like the country to have about violence against women and girls." With Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying for her ex-husband, @jessphillips stresses to @Lewis_Goodall that the new Labour MP is 'not the perpetrator'. https://t.co/bX3cBPccYQ
I asked @JonAshworth whether he could guarantee #NatalieElphicke wouldn’t be given a peerage under a Labour govt. He couldn’t 👇🏻 https://t.co/qib7oKhx3U
“Unless [Natalie Elphicke] has had the biggest Damascene conversion ever, I don’t buy it” Labour MP Zarah Sultana says she has concerns about Labour's newest MP and says there’s a “hypocrisy” as Diane Abbott is still suspended from the party #BBCLauraK https://t.co/P98o8sHpAf https://t.co/5uQHqCegw7
The Tories should have acted on Natalie Elphicke if she tried to get Robert Buckland to pull strings for her husband. Now that she’s a Labour MP, it’s a problem for them. Both of these things can be true at the same time.
WATCH: 'No deal was done' before Elphicke defected to Labour - Ashworth https://t.co/O606i4Vg5a
‘There is no value, principle, or guiding stars within Starmer's Labour Party.' Former Northern Ireland Minister, Conor Burns, reacts to Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour. https://t.co/9eBRCuC5vB
Tory MP Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour this week. Historian Dr David Starkey: "This woman is only an MP because her husband did something naughty to two women and went to jail." 📺 That Was The Woke That Was - https://t.co/Pnn6eKcWmI @andrejpwalker @Barnesy19 @mrphildave https://t.co/6ETw071K73
"What Natalie Elphicke's crossing of the floor reveals is... we are witnessing a disintegrating Conservative government" Labour's Jonathan Ashworth says Elphicke has denied allegations she lobbied ministers over her ex-husband's court case #BBCLauraK https://t.co/P98o8sHpAf https://t.co/eQkc2jZBi3
‘They are trying to use her as an example of how easy it is to switch from the Conservatives to Labour.' Camilla Tominey and Nigel Nelson discuss reactions to Natalie Elphicke's defection to the Labour Party. https://t.co/xgOsyPr5Ap
'No deal has been done.' Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, denies suggestions that Natalie Elphicke has been offered a peerage to defect to Labour, but refuses to rule out whether she will be offered one in the future. https://t.co/GC62uh0EY9
David Cameron slams Labour for 'naked opportunism' in accepting Tory defector Natalie Elphicke as Foreign Secretary claims 'right-wing' Dover MP's switch shows Keir Starmer 'doesn't stand for anything' https://t.co/oxE5ze3fXV https://t.co/2MMV60gDgn
‘No deal has been done.’ Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, responds to questions over Natalie Elphicke being offered to receive a peerage for defecting to Labour. https://t.co/ILH10W17hD
‘The defection reveals the decay and disintegration of the Tory Government before our eyes.’ Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, shares his thoughts on the defection of Natalie Elphicke to the Labour Party. https://t.co/EhKllxW90B
'If Natalie Elphicke MP did try to lobby the lord chancellor on her husband's behalf, you're going to have to withdraw the whip aren't you?' @JonAshworth asks if it did happen, 'why did the chancellor not raise it at the time?' #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺Sky 501 https://t.co/QQTr7Y7Qu9
"Traitors never sleep well", deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell tells @lewis_goodall when asked if Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour could inspire others. Full interview at 10am on @LBC.
‘She is an erratic politician!' Former Environment Secretary, George Eustice, shares his thoughts on Natalie Elphicke, following her defection to the Labour Party. https://t.co/N8qDXI9Oec
‘It is odd to see her at the heart of Labour, she doesn’t really belong there.’ Camilla Tominey and Nigel Nelson question if Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour could have been prompted by the offer of a peerage. https://t.co/nGpU0EQdyw
🔵 Conservative defector Natalie Elphicke has been accused of lobbying the justice secretary in 2020 to interfere in her then-husband’s criminal sex offences trial https://t.co/z3qPA8mywR
‘She should have known better, you don’t interfere in the judicial process.’ GB News’ Senior Political Commentator, Nigel Nelson, responds to Natalie Elphicke facing accusations for lobbying ministers to intervene in her husband's sexual assault case. https://t.co/B491wQLKK5
#bbclaurak: It's being reported that Natalie Elphicke lobbied ministers about her husband's court case... why did the Tories not say anything about it at the time? David Cameron: "It's not a Tory problem anymore." #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/sXIY901g7Y
'This week show business provided the stage... in a carefully choreographed parliamentary performance, Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour ahead of PMQs' Sky's @TrevorPTweets shares his thoughts on the week #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/9xR1LY2hAF
"I think it's a rather brilliant coup he's pulled off." Labour commentator Paul Richards tells @BenKentish that Keir Starmer accepting Natalie Elphicke 'personifies that switch' in Tories crossing parties. https://t.co/12uSyp1ukc
Natalie Elphicke's defection was 'naked opportunism by Labour', says Foreign Secretary @David_Cameron, adding that the 'quite right-wing Conservative MP was welcomed without having supported any of Labour's policies, people or approaches'. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF https://t.co/TW8eetY3II
Natalie Elphicke, the new Labour MP for Dover, has been accused of lobbying ministers over her then-husband Charlie's sexual assault case. Tap below to read more: https://t.co/OHzayMxNid
'My goodness there has been a lot of fallout from this.' GB News Political Correspondent, @forster_k, addresses reactions to Natalie Elphicke facing accusations for lobbying ministers to intervene in her ex-husbands sexual assault case. https://t.co/5A1CGUQWbF
‘The Tories are trying to scare any other defectors.’ Political Author, Owen Bennett, explains reactions across the political spectrum to Natalie Elphicke facing accusations over lobbying ministers to intervene in her ex-husband's sexual assault case. https://t.co/gwlwIQOoXj