Keir Starmer risks major shadow cabinet split after accepting Tory MP defector | Politics | News [Video]

Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to welcome the right-wing MP Natalie Elphicke into the Labour Party yesterday has sparked a major rift in his party as frontbenchers and MPs brief against the “disgusting” defection.

Sir Keir proudly showed off his second Tory MP defection yesterday at PMQs, asking Rishi Sunak: “What is the point of this failed Government staggering on … [when] the Tory MP for Dover, on the frontline of the small boats crisis, says the Prime Minister cannot be trusted with our borders?”

However behind the scenes the news was greeted with disbelief, anger and tears in Labour circles.

Coming as she did from the hard right of the Conservative Party, one shadow minister said: “People are upset and angry right across the party about the decision.”

Another shadow minister told The Guardian: “Logically or politically, we didn’t need this”.

“I worry that they’ll not have done sufficient due diligence on her.

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