Keir Starmer faces fury on the left for accepting Natalie Elphickes defection | Politics | News [Video]

Starmer welcomes Natalie Elphicke’s defection to Labour

Sir Keir Starmer is facing major backlash from the Labour Party after welcoming right-wing Tory MP into his party with open arms.

Sir Keir secured a major political coup shortly before PMQs today when Labour announced a second Tory MP defection in two weeks, with Dover MP Natalie Elphicke crossing the floor.

However Ms Elphicke has always been on the hard right of the party, especially on issues of immigration, and previous rows and scandals have led many in Labour to blast Sir Keir for allowing her into the party.

From slamming Labour on immigration to her controversial role defending her ex-MP husband during a sexual assault trial, Ms Elphicke’s litany of previous anti-Labour statements provides huge ammunition for the Conservative Party.

This afternoon Labour’s spokesman said her defection is “a sign of the progress that we’ve made that people recognise that on some of the key challenges facing the country, the Tories…