Tory defector apologises for defending sex offender ex-husband as Starmer faced revolt for admitting her to Labour
TORY defector Natalie Elphicke today issued a grovelling apology for previously backing her sex offender ex-husband.
The MP for Dover insisted she condemns Charlie Elphicke’s behaviour “towards other women and towards me”.
It came as female Labour MPs unleashed a barrage of criticism at Sir Keir Starmer for admitting the right-wing hardliner into his party.
Ms Elphicke said: “I always knew that this decision would put a spotlight on the prosecution of my ex-husband and I want to address some of the commentary around this head on.
“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.”
Mr Elphicke, who represented Dover before his ex-wife, was locked up for two years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two women in 2020.
Ms Elphicke ended the marriage but backed her ex’s unsuccessful appeal, saying he’d been “attractive, and attracted to women” and “an easy target for dirty politics and false allegations”.
Furious Labour MPs accused Sir Keir of opening the floodgates to unsavoury characters.
Feminist campaigner Rosie Duffield said: “It’s all good and well saying people can change their views but that’s some stretch.
“We seem to be allowing Tories in because they are fed up with being Tories… and I think we’re about more than that.
“It’s not sitting well with backbench MPs.”
Tories joined in the outrage, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron accusing Labour of having no values.
He said: “What does this tell us about the party she’s joining? In life, if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
“I thought that’s sort of what yesterday showed, that there isn’t a policy about anything, it’s just been about clearing the decks to try and focus attention on the governing party.”
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt joked the defection “slightly improved” the her party’s odds of holding Dover come a general election.
She added: “I am not about to defect to the opposition benches.
“They wouldn’t be interested in me, I’m too left wing.”