Bombshell as Tory MP Natalie Elphicke crosses the floor to Labour during PMQs ... trends now

Rishi Sunak was hit with a bombshell today as another Tory defected to Labour slamming his 'broken promises'.

Dover MP Natalie Elphicke crossed the floor in the Commons just as Mr Sunak began a bruising PMQs session.

Having shaken her by the hand as she took a seat behind him, Keir Starmer seized on the news saying it showed the government was collapsing. Dan Poulter made the same switch at the end of last month.

However, the defection has caused a major backlash in Labour circles, with Ms Elphicke previously regarded as on the right of the Conservatives.

She also has a long record of attacking Keir Starmer's party, which shocked colleagues insisted she 'despised' up to now.  

Ms Elphicke took aim at Mr Sunak's 'tired and chaotic government' in her parting shot, saying the 'key deciding factors' for her had been 'housing and the safety and security of our borders'.

She said: 'Today I announce that I have decided to join the Labour Party and that I will sit in Parliament as a Labour MP.

'When I was elected in 2019, the Conservative Party occupied the centre ground of British politics. The party was about building the future and making the most of the opportunities that lay ahead for our country.

'Since then, many things have changed. The elected Prime Minister was ousted in a coup led by the unelected Rishi Sunak. 

'Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division. 

'The centre ground has been abandoned and key pledges of the 2019 manifesto have been ditched.'

Incredulous Tories immediately began circulating previous comments by Ms Elphicke condemning Labour for its 'open borders' policy. 

Rail minister Huw Merriman said the defection was 'shameless'.

He told BBC News: 'I've seen some sights in this place, but actually the lack of scruples on this one is a new bar that Natalie has created.

'Just recently she'd written a Daily Mail article saying 'Don't trust Labour on immigration, they really want open borders' and now she's sitting with them.

'Absolutely bizarre.'

Former minister Stephen Hammond told Sky News he was 'staggered' by the defection. 'If there's someone who, as much as anyone, has dragged my party away from the centre in the last few years it's Natalie,' he said. 

Other MPs swiped that Sir Keir was taking the 'absolute dregs' of the party. 

A Conservative member of Dover District Council described it as a 'kick in the guts'.

Councillor Stephen Manion, who represents Eastry Rural, said he was 'sickened'.

Some in Labour were also uncomfortable about the shock move, while the Corbynite Momentum pressure group said Ms Elphicke had 'no place in a Labour Party committed to progressive values'. 

Ms Elphicke had a 12,000 majority in Dover at the last election, and looked to have a good chance of holding the successor seat of Dover & Deal.

However, she is now expected to stand down with Labour's existing candidate Mike Tapp remaining in place. She has denied accepting a peerage to quit.

A jubilant Sir Keir goaded Mr Sunak in the Commons, asking 'what is the point of this failed Government staggering on' when 'the Tory MP for Dover on the front line of small boats crisis says the Prime Minister cannot be trusted with our borders and joins Labour'. 

'Why doesn't he put it to the test and call a general election?' he said.

Sir Keir railed: 'The voters tell him it's not good enough, instead of listening he keeps telling them everything's fine, if only they realise his greatness. He just doesn't get it.

'But at least after Thursday night he can go to the many places that he calls home and enjoy the fruits of his success. 

'In Southampton or Downing Street, he's got great Labour councils. At his mansion in Richmond he can enjoy a brand new Labour mayor of North Yorkshire. 

'At his pad in Kensington he can celebrate a historic third term for the Mayor of London.

'Now that he too could enjoy the benefits of this changed Labour Party, is he really still in such a hurry to get back to California?'

But a bullish Mr Sunak lashed back: 'I was, of course, surprised to see (Sir Keir) in North Yorkshire but probably not as surprised as he was when he realised he couldn't take the Tube there.

'I can tell him that the people of North Yorkshire believe in hard work, secure borders, lower taxes and straight-talking common sense, they're not going to get any of that from a virtue-signalling lawyer from north London.'

Mr Sunak is under massive pressure following the local elections, with Tories urging him to get more hardline on issues such as migration and tax. 

Rebels have so far held off on an all-out coup attempt, with ministers including Penny Mordaunt - tipped by some as a potential replacement - rallying round. 

But Liz Truss insisted last night that Mr Sunak must 'junk' plans such as the phased ban on cigarette sales, regarded as 'nanny state' by critics. 

The tensions surfaced at Cabinet yesterday, with Mr Gove understood to have warned over a lurch to the Right. 

Arguing that the party needed to maintain 'broad appeal' rather than taking positions that 'make us feel good about ourselves', he quoted supermodel Moss saying: 'Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.'

According to the Times, the comments drew a sharp rebuke from Chris Heaton-Harris and Alister Jack, who shot back: 'I disagree with you. We shouldn't be apologists for what we believe in.' 

One Tory MP told MailOnline that Mr Gove quoting the supermodel - who did not invent the quip and has since suggested she regrets it - was 'deeply weird'.

Anxiety is rising in Conservative circles about the prospect of a wipeout at the election, after the dire showing in council and mayoral polls last week.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has penned a report demanding a tougher approach on borders, while his ex-boss Suella Braverman has been similarly trenchant about changing direction. 

After announcing her defection, Ms Elphicke told reporters at Westminster: 'In 2019, the Conservatives stood on a manifesto that was very much centre ground, but under Rishi Sunak they've abandoned the centre ground and broken many election promises.

'Meanwhile, under Keir Starmer, Labour have changed. And I think that change is going to bring a much better future for our country and that's why I was so keen to join the Labour Party and play my part in bringing that important future forward.'

Asked about her previous criticism of Labour over immigration policy, she said Mr Sunak 'was the man who said he would stop the boats' but so far this year there had been 'record numbers of small boats arrivals'.

'So he's not stopping the boats and he's letting the country down.

'Meanwhile under Labour, they are clear that it is important to have defence and they want to make sure that they have good national security. So I think we should have confidence that Labour are the party who will tackle this issue of the small boats crossings.'

Speaking at a Tory fundraiser, Ms Mordaunt - often touted as a potential replacement - put on a show of loyalty to Mr Sunak and echoed Mr Gove's message about the need to hold the political centre ground. 

'You can't salami-slice Conservatism. If we do that, we lose our the power of our offer,' she said. 

'A Labour win at the General Election

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