MP Natalie Elphicke, who recently switched allegiance from the Conservative Party to Labour, has issued an apology for previous comments she made in support of her ex-husband, Charlie Elphicke, after his conviction for sexual assault. The apology comes amidst her controversial move to Labour, which has stirred mixed reactions among her new party colleagues.
Charlie Elphicke, the former MP for Dover and Natalie Elphicke’s predecessor was convicted in 2020 for sexually assaulting two women and was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison. Natalie Elphicke had initially defended him, describing him as “an easy target” due to his attractiveness, which drew significant criticism and concern from various quarters, including Labour MPs.
In her statement, Natalie Elphicke expressed regret over her earlier comments and acknowledged the pain of the victims: “The period of 2017 – 2020 was an incredibly stressful and difficult one for me as I learned more about the person I thought I knew. I know it was far harder for the women who had to relive their experiences and give evidence against him,” she said. “I have previously, and do, condemn his behaviour towards other women and towards me. It was right that he was prosecuted and I’m sorry for the comments that I made about his victims.”
Her defection to Labour on Wednesday was met with scepticism and scrutiny, not just because of her past comments, but also due to her conservative views, particularly on issues like immigration. Labour MPs and members have expressed concern about her alignment with the party’s values.
Jess Phillips, the former shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, emphasized the need for Elphicke to account for her past actions. Meanwhile, Martin Abrams from the left-wing group Momentum accused Labour of double standards in its treatment of Elphicke compared to other members like Diane Abbott, who remains suspended.
Despite the controversy, Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds described Elphicke as a “good, natural fit” for the party, highlighting her advocacy against homelessness and for rent freezes as common grounds with Labour values. The party has even suggested a potential unpaid role for her in advising on housing policy.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for what he called opportunistic politics in accepting Elphicke into the party. This defection marks the second for the Conservative Party in less than two weeks, following Dr Dan Poulter’s departure to Labour.
Elphicke has announced that she will not seek reelection and will stand down at the next general election, maintaining that she joined Labour due to its stance on key issues like housing and border security, which she believes the Conservative Party has failed to address effectively under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership.
