- By Becky Morton
- BBC political reporter
Picture supply, Getty Pictures
MP Natalie Elphicke – who defected from the Tories to Labour – has apologised for feedback she made supporting her ex-husband after he was convicted of sexual assault.
Charlie Elphicke was discovered responsible of sexually assaulting two ladies in 2020.
Some Labour MPs had raised issues about her saying he was “a straightforward goal” for false allegations as a result of he was “enticing”.
The Dover MP joined the Labour Celebration on Wednesday.
In a press release on Thursday she mentioned she knew her defection would “put a highlight on the prosecution of my ex-husband”.
“The interval of 2017 – 2020 was an extremely worrying and troublesome one for me as I realized extra in regards to the individual I assumed I knew. I do know it was far tougher for the ladies who needed to relive their experiences and provides proof in opposition to him,” she mentioned.
“I’ve beforehand, and do, condemn his behaviour in direction of different ladies and in direction of me. It was proper that he was prosecuted and I am sorry for the feedback that I made about his victims.”
Mr Elphicke, who was her predecessor as MP for Dover, was jailed for 2 years in 2020 for sexual assault.
Mrs Elphicke ended their marriage after his conviction however supported his unsuccessful attraction.
In September 2020, she instructed the Solar newspaper he was “a straightforward goal for soiled politics and false allegations” as a result of he was “enticing, and drawn to, ladies”.
Her earlier feedback had prompted criticism from some Labour MPs.
Jess Phillips, the previous shadow minister for home violence and safeguarding, mentioned Mrs Elphicke ought to “account for her actions”.
She instructed ITV’s Peston: “I am all for forgiveness however I do suppose that that wants some explaining.”
Mrs Elphicke has mentioned she’s going to stand down as an MP on the subsequent election, with Labour retaining their present candidate for the Dover and Deal constituency.
Saying her shock defection on Wednesday, she hit out at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying below his management the Conservatives “have grow to be a byword for incompetence and division”.
She mentioned the federal government’s document on housing and border safety have been the important thing elements behind her determination, accusing Mr Sunak of damaged guarantees and abandoning key pledges.
Some Labour MPs additionally expressed concern that Mrs Elphicke’s political opinions didn’t align with the get together.
The MP, who had been seen as on the correct of the Tory Celebration, had beforehand been crucial of Labour’s stance on immigration.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield mentioned her colleagues have been “baffled” by Mrs Elphicke’s defection and he or she didn’t “imagine for a second that [Mrs Elphicke] has instantly remodeled right into a Labour MP”.
John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor below former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, instructed LBC he was “stunned and shocked”, including: “I am an awesome believer within the powers of conversion, however I feel even this one would have strained the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist, fairly truthfully.”
The Labour Chief of Dover District Council, Kevin Mills, mentioned what he has in widespread with Mrs Elphicke is “a limb on every nook of my physique”.
He instructed BBC Radio Kent he was happy she had realised “the one get together that may enhance this nation is the Labour Celebration” however had “some actual issues” about her defection.
Mr Mills added that he would work along with her, despite the fact that they’d disagreed on points together with the dispute over P&O Ferries sackings and cuts at border controls.
Nonetheless, Labour Celebration chairwoman Anneliese Dodds mentioned Mrs Elphicke was a “good, pure match” for her get together, including: “Folks can change their minds.”
Labour has mentioned she might have an unpaid position advising the get together on housing coverage.
She has campaigned for lease freezes and in opposition to homelessness – areas the place she has widespread floor with Labour.