Sir Keir attacks ‘tribalism’ as he welcomes ex-Tory

Sir Keir Starmer has said politics should be “less tribal” and suggested he was open to “reasonably-minded people” from other parties joining Labour as he welcomed Tory defector Natalie Elphicke.

Ms Elphicke joined Sir Keir in Dover, her constituency, to launch the Labour Party’s plans to tackle people-smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the Channel in small boats.

Taking questions from the media, Sir Keir said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Natalie to the Labour Party. You’ve heard the reasons yourself why she took that very difficult step.” He said he wanted his party to be a place that “reasonably-minded people, whichever way they voted in the past” feel they can join.

“It is an invitation that we should be less tribal in the pursuit of a better country and invite people to our party who want to join in our object of national renewal,” Sir Keir said.

Ms Elphicke speaking in Deal, part of her Dover constituency, yesterday

Asked where he would draw the line with right-wing politicians and whether he would welcome Nigel Farage into Labour, he said: “A list of names doesn’t help anyone, but Nigel Farage wouldn’t want to join Labour,” adding he wanted to “bring as many people with us as possible”. Labour MPs have criticised the decision to admit Ms Elphicke to the party, citing her hard-line views on immigration and her previous support of her ex-husband after he was found guilty of sexual assaulting two women.