“It’s outrageous that she should be allowed to join the Labour benches while principled socialists like Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn still haven’t had the whip restored”
Mick Whitley MP
By Labour Outlook
The Labour Left has hit back after yesterday’s shock announcement that Tory MP, Natalie Elphicke, has defected from the government benches and been welcomed by Keir Starmer into the Parliamentary Labour Party – all while Diane Abbott remains under suspension for comments made last year.
Jess Barnard, a prominent member of Labour’s NEC on the left of the party, said “it’s clear this was a colossal error of judgement from Starmer. His welcoming of Natalie Elphicke undermines the fight against sexual harassment and is totally inconsistent with Labour values. I call on him to suspend the whip from Elphicke and apologise for the hurt caused.”
After Elphicke’s husband was convicted of sex offences, she claimed his victims were part of a “dirty politics” and that he had been punished for being “attractive and attracted” to women. She was also found to have attempted to improperly lobby the judge over the outcome of the court case.
Another Labour NEC member, Mish Rahman, commented similarly: “Elphicke should have the whip withdrawn for comments about victims of sexual harassment.”
“Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Minister has to do better than to defend someone who has never been held to account about those awful comments”
Pointing to the hard-rightwinger’s record, a spokesperson for Momentum said “Natalie Elphicke has consistently demonised refugees and aid groups. She voted against Labour proposals to outlaw fire and rehire, while supporting a wide array of destructive and damaging Tory legislation. She should have no place in a Labour Party committed to progressive values and working-class people. Sadly, Keir Starmer is taking Labour away from its core values, aping a failed Tory Party instead of offering a real alternative to it. More than ever, Britain wants change – but is being offered a two-party consensus instead.”
They added: “This hard-right Tory should have no place in a Labour Party worthy of the name.”
“It speaks volumes about Keir Starmer that he is welcoming her with open arms, while leaving Diane Abbott out in the cold.”
MPs also expressed their concern. Mick Whitley said “Natalie Elphicke’s values are not the values of the labour movement.”
“It’s outrageous that she should be allowed to join the Labour benches while principled socialists like Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn still haven’t had the whip restored.”
Nadia Whittome MP, said “I don’t agree with the decision to admit Natalie Elphicke. Labour is a broad church, but there should be limits. I am deeply concerned by Natalie’s past comments and I’m unconvinced that her politics have changed sufficiently for her to represent our party.”
Similarly, John McDonnell told LBC “I’m a great believer in the power of conversion, but even this one would strain the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist.”
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Yes exactly