British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a significant blow on Wednesday as a Conservative MP abandoned ship to join the Opposition Labour camp, criticizing the Tories for their perceived incompetence and division.
Natalie Elphicke, representing Dover, delivered her resignation statement just moments before the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), accusing Sunak of reneging on promises and forsaking key commitments.
The 43-year-old British Indian leader then squared off against Labour Leader Keir Starmer, who capitalized on the surprise defection — the second in two weeks — amid disappointing local election results for the ruling party.
“When I was elected in 2019, the Conservative Party held the center ground of British politics. It was focused on shaping the future and seizing the opportunities ahead for our nation,” Elphicke, previously a staunch Labour critic, stated in her resignation letter.
“However, since then, much has changed. The elected prime minister was ousted in a coup orchestrated by the unelected Rishi Sunak. Under his leadership, the Conservatives have become synonymous with incompetence and disunity. The center ground has been forsaken, and key manifesto pledges of 2019 have been discarded,” she lamented.
Elphicke further asserted that under Starmer, Labour has undergone significant transformation and its policies can be relied upon.
“We must move beyond the broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic administration,” she proclaimed.
The dramatic scene of her crossing the parliamentary floor was followed by Starmer's pointed question to Sunak: “What is the purpose of this failed government continuing,” especially as a Tory MP from the frontline of the small boats migration crisis in Dover openly criticized Sunak’s handling of such a critical issue.
“If he believes his own MPs defecting to Labour are mistaken and if he believes anyone buys into his rhetoric, why not test it and call a general election,” Starmer challenged during PMQs.
Sunak sidestepped the question, instead accusing his adversary of being disconnected from the British public.
“He criticizes from the sidelines, while the Conservatives are actively shaping a brighter future,” Sunak countered.
In late April, Dan Poulter, a doctor and Tory MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, announced his defection to Labour, citing an inability to defend the Tory government’s NHS track record.
Reportedly, Labour intends to retain its current candidate in the newly redrawn Dover and Deal constituency for the upcoming general election later this year, with Elphicke stepping down, her future intentions uncertain.
“The constituents of Dover and Deal will undoubtedly feel let down, having experienced the impact of illegal immigration. They previously had an MP aligned with efforts to address this issue directly; now, they are represented by an MP in a party that has actively obstructed our efforts to tackle illegal immigration 139 times,” remarked a Conservative Party spokesperson.
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