The Labour Party has, apparently, got another new MP. Natalie
Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover who succeeded her husband in holding this seat after he resigned as a result of accusations of having committed sex offences, for which he was later sentenced to prison, has defected from the Conservatives and crossed the floor of the House.
Elphicke has apparently claimed that she felt it necessary to depart from the Tories because of their ruinous policies. To that limited degree, I understand her position.
What I do not understand is why the Labour Party has accepted her application for membership. She has a history of making nasty attacks on migrants seeking entry into the UK after they have been given no choice but to do so by crossing the Channel in small boats when all other legal routes available to them have been blocked.
She is also, according to Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of the most right wing members of the Conservative party.
She has witnessed this through persistently supporting the nastiest of Tory legislation, without any apparent coercion from the Whips being required, based upon the observations that she has made.
She has also been suspended from the House for attempting to influence senior judges in November 2020 in her husband's sentencing appeal after his conviction for sexual assault.
The Labour Party now has an appalling track record of expelling its natural, long-term supporters who have had the slightest association with causes normally associated with the Party, including support for all oppressed people and the promotion of peace, as well as reconciliation between people living in any society. It is very hard to see how a great many of these expulsions could reasonably have been justified on the basis of behaviour that almost any person of left-wing inclination would have thought entirely reasonable. Now, however, it has accepted into membership a person who I, and many other reasonable people of no political persuasion, might think to hold deeply right-wing views.
How far can Labour descend?
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Is the The Labour Party really this desperate???
Well, we keep thinking they can’t get any worse – and then they do. This really takes the biscuit. Absolutely unbelievable.
The way it is going there is a long way down still to go. Surely someone should have considered how this looks both to party members and the general public. Wonder what she has been promised because it is not worth it to take On such a right wing tory.
In 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine Boris Johnson as PM promised a “massive package” of economic sanctions that would “hobble” Russia. In 2023 Rishi Sunak said that he would ensure “Russia pays a price” for the war in Ukraine, adding new sanctions targeting Russian exports. The exports identified were for Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel imported into the UK. The policy has failed, dismally. Putin’s oil comes into this country in refined oil products, typically from India. Russia is running rings round the West. He is funding his war too easily. The West’s globalisation policy is failing; incapable of applying functioning sanctions that actually work. It is a catastrophe.
The West has hopelessly failed with sanctions. The British government’s energy policy is in tatters. The only people paying a price sanction post the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is the British people; through the world market price they are paying for energy, even where the energy (oil or renewables) is produced far more cheaply than world prices in the UK. This is a fundamental security scandal. A failure of the Conservative Government to protect the British people in an energy crisis. This is an unacceptable failure of duty by Government, and specifically the Conservative Party. This is unforgivable; and nothing has been done, fundamentally to transform the failure.
You can’t support international deregulation of trade and then expect sanctions to work. The two are opposed to each other. Neoliberalism is undermining the defence of democracy.
Thank you, John.
Although the likes of India and Turkey and the stans are facilitating the sanctions busting, many of the intermediary firms are Wall Street’s finest.
My employer has a business unit based in Antwerp. We got the clients to lobby Brussels for an exemption on the material they import from Russia, cut and sell.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Welcome to newpol, the one party state. You can vote any way you want – the outcome is always the same. Vote newpol (a wholly owned sub of LINO Inc – all donations gladly received particualrly big ones).
Interesting you should reference Animal Farm as I’ve just re-read it. I hadn’t previously understood that it’s actually a Labour Party strategy document.
The public outside looked from Labour to Tory, then from Tory to Labour and from Labour to Tory again, but already it was impossible to tell which was which.
Not long till it’s a bright, warm April day and the clocks strike thirteen.
Grim isn’t it ? But no surprise with Lord Mandelson now pulling Starmer’s strings. Here in Northern Ireland we have, post 2009, suffered the socially and economically destructive consequences of British loyalist criminal gangs created by the UK military counterinsurgency Operation Banner (1969-2007) being allowed to grow in size exponentially and run feral. The PSNI are ordered, from above, to not act against their criminality and their terrorizing of their communities, especially young boys, and instead gift control to their ‘community leaders’. All of them ‘ex’ Troubles paramilitaries. Directly encouraged and enabled over decades by PM Blair’s Lord Mandelson locally ignorant and politically ideological policies of criminal paramilitary appeasement. I fear for the innocent people England and Wales with that man, the Grand Vizier of Starmer’s Labour Party, now becoming a de facto PM once again. He is dangerous.
In SKS’ Labour party there are no moral or ethical standards that cannot be sacrificed for short term PR or electoral gain.
It augurs well for all right wing opportunists trying to save their careers, and I note that Jacob Rees Mogg is in something of a vulnerable position too, but it reflects extremely badly on a party which claims to have high standards of public probity.
Over the years Charlie Elphicke MP often appeared on the local BBC News. Sometimes he was reasonably compationate towards migrants, other times he was much less so. After Natalie Elphicke MP took over, l concluded that the less compationate Charlie was the result of persistent ear bashing by his wife.
I live in a Kent constituency that could change from Tory to Labour at the next election. It won’t be anything else. How can I vote for a party that accepts Ephicke as a member. Even right wing Tories won’t admit to being more right wing than her!
Indeed, Richard.
And in similar vein here’s the relevant part of an email to my walking chum and political stablemate sent when the news broke: ‘Anyway, on a related note, yes the results were good at the weekend for Labour. That said, taking in Elphike is ridiculous given how right wing and what a shite MP she is. But then again, maybe that’s how far right Starmer and his ilk have (or intend) to go?’
Kier Starmer wants Rishi Sunak’s job, he wants to be leader of the Conservative Party.
He already is.
Starmer should cross the floor and join the party of no morals the Conservative Party, it’s his natural home!
Any recommendations for a book on British politics which doesn’t adhere to the mainstream narrative?
On what passes for UK economics in the last 40 years: “Late Soviet Britain” By Abby Innes. Took her 6 years to write and leaves the neo-liberal “project” as a small pile of rubble.
Ian, I couldn’t agree more with Mike that ‘Post Soviet Britain’ is excellent. On the same subject (neoliberalism), I’ve always thought a much underrated book on the subject is David Harvey’s ‘A brief history of Neoliberalism.’
And although not specifically about Uk politics – in the sense of party based – ‘The Captive State’, by George Monbiot, and ‘Butler to the World’, by Oliver Bullough both describe in detail how government and politics in the UK have been captured by the rich and their henchmen and lakeys.
Finally, if you’ve never come across it, an explanation and critique of how we got here – not just in the UK but US and elsewhere – is Tony Judt’s ‘Ill Fares the Land’. You won’t read anything better.
I agree with al, that, and most especially on Judt
I noticed that an MP who made a misguided comment on Holocaust remembrance day, has been reinstated after eating some humble pie, and expressing the view that their comments were completely wrong.
However, Dianne Abbott remains suspended despite having done much the same. Can’t help thinking it’s because she is too left wing, preferring national ownership of essential infrastructure or natural monopolies!
Democracy has been disabled in Labour, for top down decision making – well democracy is messy we all know that! Interesting messaging from “Changed Labour” though, one to watch.
It would be nice to know how long Elphicke has been talking to Starmer and Co? If it was a snap leadership decision then I’m saddened.
Anyway heap the blame on the Greens, as “they are taking the Labour” outcasts.
Only another 25 or so defections for a hung Parliament.
Tony, your second to last paragraph, can you elaborate please? Are a lot of left wing labour people moving to the greens? I can’t be arsed trying to keep up with internal labour shenanigans any more than I can with listening to anything this sick joke of a “government” says. Thanks.
@sickiftaxdodgers. IMO within south Wales, my region, many Labourites are listening to Green Party policies, some are joining the Green Party. It’s still small numbers, however recent events within Labour will likely have impact. I was a LP member from 1970 to ca 2009 and joined the Greens in 2014 after deliberation.
My original [tangential] comment was made because I recently read or heard right-wing commentators stating the Green Party is giving refuge and support to ex-Labour members and their anti-Semitism. The catenation with anti-Semitism is a smear to counteract recent Green successes.
I knew she was Right wing, but I didn t think she was SO Right wing that she would join the Starmer Party.
Why is no-one asking just who is Keir Starmer really working for?
It certainly isn’t the struggling masses in the UK.
It certainly isn’t those seeking a ceasefire in Gaza.
It certainly isn’t the homeless, the disabled, the people struggling with the highest levels of anxiety.
It definitely isn’t the great many decent people in the UK who want to see fairness and equity, not greed and tyranny.
We do know:
Starmer supports Zionists and Zionism.
Starmer accepted donations in his Leadership campaign (details were only released after he had been ‘elected’) from such pillars of society as Trevor Chinn.
Starmer has spent much of his time sucking up to the rich and powerful.
Starmer cannot stand socialism and socialists.
Starmer cannot be trusted – he is an inveterate liar. Ten pledges? All binned. This was a warning to Labour MPs that they should stand up and be counted….What we got was craven collaboration by unprincipled chancers.
Meanwhile a principled socialist is thrown out of the party by an arse-licking stooge of the billionaires. And the Labour benches do nothing, say nothing and do sweet FA to stand up to the Starmer clique.
Why would anyone with an ounce of decency vote for these charlatans?
Why would anyone with an ounce of decency vote for these charlatans?
Surely only Tories vote for Labour now.
Politically this makes zero sense. Starmer won’t get anything now by a discredited hard (far?)-right-wing Tory MP joining Labour, but will lose quite a lot later on. His main danger will be coming from the Greens – and quite a few voters are now seriously getting fed up with ‘they’ll vote for us anyway as they have nowhere to go’ attitude.
Lord knows what Starmer is doing. Is it yet another example of labour “s apparent obsession with trying to appeal to Tory voters…..I mean very right wing Tory voters.
Or a way of undermining the Tories by showing more evidence of their disintegration, so trying to get a GE as soon as possible?
If the second I suppose it could be justified on tactical grounds. But as Helen Heenan’s response shows, is it really worth doing if you alienate so many people who used to support you?
What he got, and presumably wanted, was a melodramatic moment in the Commons and the chance to bait the PM. Following which, he got headlines in the media. His focus was entirely on this shoddy little bit of Am-Dram and stilted applause from the media claque. It’s meaningless on any significant level, as is everything he does – merely performative politics to please those who really matter, which is not the people.
After 40 years I have today cancelled my Labour Party membership. I have often wondered what it would take to finally push me out, and today’s crass addition to the Party has done it. In the past, I have stuck around out of sheer stubbornness – “I know they don’t want me so I’m staying”. Today Labour may have gained a member, but they just lost one too. No more canvassing, no more committee meetings, no more fundraising. I will be voting Plaid or Green or for anyone who shares my values.
Good luck
I think you may feel liberated.
Perhaps Helen, you would care to support an Independent? (if you have one in your area).
I and another commentator on this site are about to launch a web site + other stuff to support Independent candidates.
If this is interesting, Richard has my details.
I will forward, if required
yes please!
Please do. Thanks.
Yes – please forward details
Done
Please can I ask for these details too? Thanks
Done
We have an independent socialist candidate standing in my marginal constituency. If I can have an email address I can send their name/email address to you.
I think the best comment today regarding Elphike’s defection was Count Binface’s on Twitter!
It was brilliant
This is the direction of the Labour Party these days, Mandleson trashing people with a conscious while welcoming right wing tory mps into the party.
“The Green Party is becoming a dustbin, a repository not only for climate activists, but for disgruntled hard leftists leaving the Labour Party, and some fairly unpleasant hardline Free Palestine activists as well.”
It will all end in tears as the Labour Party will become a rump compared to it’s history of radicalism.
Starmer’s Labour is just depending on the ‘masses’ seeing the news headlines and thinking ‘Well Labour must be the party to vote for then’.
Call me paranoid, but my busy brain has wondered whether that the defections could be planting trojan horses into Keith’s party, to find out what their general election plans are.
Whatever, I think too many people now know that Labour has a) failed its core purpose in standing up for ordinary people’s needs and rights, b) incensed too many people by proving his determination to support Israel no matter how many shivering, traumatised Palestinian children we have to watch and c) has done nothing to reassure anyone that he will rescue public services that most of us have grown up with and our children now face losing. People are sick of waiting for health treatment or being rattled to a standstill on Britain’s potholed roads.
It’s also not clear whether Natalie Elphicke has accepted the seriousness of her husband’s sexual predation and that he was rightly imprisoned.
A depressing and entirely credible theory.
Looks like the Labour Leadership Team are all principled Marxists – Groucho Marxists
How to recognise a county in decline:-
“Don’t criticise Keir Starmer policies we need to get the vile Tory MP’s out of office!” – to – “Don’t criticise Keir Starmer for welcoming self-same vile Tory MP’s into the Labour Party!”
“country” of course
English politics continues to get stranger.
I remember when George Galloway was thought of as a progressive left-winger.
I felt really sorry for Annaliese Dodds, who I believe to be decent trying to defend this decision last night. There really was no answer to why Dianne Abbott is still suspended while a vile character like Natalie Elphick has been welcomed with open arms. It looks and is shoddy move.
Whilst those looking strategically may accept such a move, loyal decent Labour will be disgusted and their votes will be lost forever. One has to wonder who is advising Kier Starmer and if he has any moral character whatsoever. Having been involved in local politics against Labour I already believe them to be toxic in their approach to winning votes, but this move will shock even the most naive voter. And sadly adds to the view that all politicians are the same and not to be trusted.
Abbott’s exclusion now looks inexplicable.
Thank you and well said, Richard.
Early this year, a friend, former Labour activist and retired journalist from Yorkshire reckoned Starmer wants to appeal to the elements in the red wall that have various prejudices, so we get the exclusions of the likes of Abbott, using phrases like “shaking off fleas”, blaming Labour’s defeats in Blackburn and Oldham and narrow victory in the West Midlands (inaccurately) on Muslims, and courting the likes of Elphicke and Orangeman Henry Dunbar.
It was hilarious to read Starmerite cheerleader Andrew Levi on X saying the recruitment of Elphicke is part of a grand strategy to enable Starmer to be the Attlee of the 21st century. There’s a lot of that. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at such serious people, people who don’t do “student t shirt politics”.
Like many I was both confused and dismayed at Starmer admitting Mrs Elphicke into the party.
Once the indignation had subsided I was sufficiently calm to remind myself, although I don’t like it, the uncomfortable truth, that politics is just another version of X-factor. The aim is to attract more votes than the other competitors and for such an uncharismatic hopeful, that necessitates a series of calculated gambles on whether an action wins over more people than it pisses off.
Labour were on the wrong side of the argument, from the perspective of many of its voters, during the 2016 referendum and again in 2019 when the liar Johnson profited by understanding that many traditional Labour voters had more in common with Mrs Elphicke’s views on immigration than many Labour Party members are willing to acknowledge.
I can see how Starmer’s strategy, understandably unpalatable to many, is designed to firstly prevent the Tory press, unjustifiably, from using such factors as Corbyn, Abbott and antisemitism to prevent a Labour win and secondly to bring back those voters who do not accept the UK’s need for a more liberal immigration policy.
The success of his approach should be judged by whether he can secure an end to the current abominable administration AND deliver policies that make tangible improvements to ordinary lives WITHOUT ignoring the need to reduce our negative impacts on the environment.
We don’t need to like Starmer’s approach to winning to understand it. Whether history will be as unkind to him as I hope it is to Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak (I list them to remind us of how many incompetents the Conservatives have offered the UK electorate) will hopefully be judged on his success whilst governing and not just on seeking office.
Surely she is motivated simply by the prospect of imminent unemployment? A more repulsive move by Starmer is hard to imagine. I wonder where he would draw the line?
Jacob Rees-Mogg?
On the bright side of this results in a hung parliament and voting reform it will be a useful mistake. Hard to know which party involved is the more cynical.