Elphicke should know we vote for party, not person
Everyone involved in Natalie Elphicke’s defection to Labour is treacherous and it isn’t going to improve given that they applaud each other’s treachery. It just sums up British politics.
Max Jacobs, Truro
I disagree with Dan Hodges, who said last week that Labour would never forgive Starmer for his betrayal of welcoming former Tory MP Natalie Elphicke into the party. Starmer has played a blinder. He’s shut up those who say he’s lost touch with Red Wall voters. He also knows that, to hold power for a longer time, he needs to work with all people, even if he disagrees with them. It’s only by working together that we can make the country work again.
Samantha Gray, Liverpool
No MP should be allowed to swap parties. They should resign and call for a by-election. I vote for a party, not a person.
Daisy Barnes, Birmingham
Is Natalie Elphicke really a
Trojan horse aiming to undermine the credibility of the Labour Party?
Bill Trendell, Guildford
I think we’re going a bit overboard about this – it’s not worth throwing your toys out of the pram for. More Labour voters who were worried about their migration policy might vote for them now Elphicke is there.
Owen Sanders, Cambridge
Sir Keir Starmer has been scraping the barrel of discontent since he became Labour leader, so this should come as no surprise. The real question is why Natalie Elphicke is defecting to Labour: a mystery if ever there was one.
Damian Jagger, Daventry, East Midlands
No one should be able to cross over without triggering a byelection. The constituents of Dover voted in a Conservative MP, not a Labour one. If you want to posture, then do it honourably.
Brian Brooks, Southampton
Keir’s chief of staff Sue Gray’s meddling will backfire, especially after the accusation that Elphicke wanted the Justice Secretary to help her ex-husband in his sexual assault trial. It just shows how dim ‘top level’ civil servants are. Penelope Davis, Bideford, Devon
As Elphicke is not standing in the general election, it is not an issue for Labour, just more embarrassment for the Tories. And Robert Buckland has sat on the fact that Elphicke approached him four years ago to try to pervert the course of justice. MPs only look out for themselves.
Gavin Shaw, Newcastle upon Tyne