British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced accusations of leading a “chaotic” government as another Conservative lawmaker, Natalie Elphicke, defected to the Labour Party ahead of a looming general election. Elphicke crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join Labour, criticizing Sunak’s government as incompetent and divisive, particularly in its handling of migrant crossings from France. She is the second Conservative lawmaker to defect to Labour in recent weeks following Dan Poulter. Elphicke’s defection is surprising as she was considered to be on the right of the Conservative Party and has been critical of Labour in the past.
With the upcoming general election, Sunak has made reducing the number of people arriving in Britain via small boats a key issue. More than 8,000 individuals have made the dangerous crossing already this year, with close to 30,000 arriving in 2023. Sunak’s controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda has added to the government’s challenges. Elphicke, who represents the constituency of Dover in southern England, has been increasingly disapproving of the government’s approach to migrant crossings, leading to her decision to defect to Labour. She was elected in 2019, succeeding her then-husband, Charlie, who was jailed in 2020 for sexually assaulting two women.
Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed Elphicke and another newly elected Labour lawmaker, Chris Webb, emphasizing the need for a general election. The Conservatives suffered losses in local elections recently, while Labour made gains, particularly in areas that voted for Brexit in 2016. Elphicke’s defection may help Labour deflect attacks from the Conservatives during the election, particularly regarding Brexit. She emphasized that Labour has accepted Brexit and its economic policies, indicating her support for the party’s direction. However, her defection raised concerns within Labour as well, with the left-wing Momentum group criticizing her past views on refugees and aid groups.
The date of the general election in the UK is within the prime minister’s discretion, with Sunak suggesting a possible timing in the second half of 2024. The call for an election has been reiterated by Starmer, who sees the current government as unreliable on border security issues. Despite Sunak’s efforts to address concerns over migrant crossings, the political landscape remains turbulent, with defections from the Conservative Party to Labour adding to the uncertainty. The upcoming general election will be crucial in determining the future direction of the UK government and the impact of recent political shifts on policy decisions and public opinion.
