Keir Starmer risks inflaming Labour fury with speech 'alongside Tory defector ... trends now
Keir Starmer looks set to inflame Labour fury over Natalie Elphicke's defection by appearing alongside her today.
Sir Keir is set to push his plans for a 'Border Security Command' to tackle the Channel boats crisis during a visit to his new MP's Dover constituency.
The body will bring together key agencies including MI5, the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service. It would mark the first time that MI5 agents have been deployed in this way on the problem.
Government sources dismissed the plans for 'yet another Labour quango' as a 'rearranging of the bureaucratic deckchairs'.
Although Labour has not officially confirmed Ms Elphicke will attend the speech, it would raise questions if she is absent.
Keir Starmer (pictured with Natalie Elphicke) will announce plans to create a 'Border Security Command' to tackle the small boats crisis
Government sources dismissed the plans for 'yet another Labour quango' as a 'rearranging of the bureaucratic deckchairs' (file picture of migrants trying to cross the Channel last month)
Ms Elphicke's dramatic crossing of the floor at PMQs on Wednesday has caused shockwaves through Labour.
She was considered on the right of the Tories, and previously slammed the Labour leader as 'Sir Softie' for his approach to Channel migration.
Sir Keir trumpeted the defection as evidence that Labour has broad appeal and can take on the Conservatives in their own core issues. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting boasted overnight that the party is talking to more prospective switchers on the government benches, with Dan Poulter already having made the change a fortnight ago.
However, critics have accused Sir Keir of turning the party into a 'dustbin' for Conservative right-wingers - while even normally staunch supporter Lord Kinnock has warned he needs to be careful who to accept.
Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy suffered an awkward moment on the BBC's Question Time last night when the audience was asked whether Ms Elphicke was an 'asset' to her party and no-one put their hand up.
Sir Keir's allies have been stressing that Ms Elphicke is not standing for re-election in Dover and will not have a frontbench role or be handed a peerage.
Yesterday Ms Elphicke issued an apology for comments in which she appeared to blame victims after her husband Charlie
