"He was rattled throughout" | PMQs Analysed | 08.05.24

James O’Brien and LBC’s Political Editor, Natasha Clark, analyse this week's PMQs as Rishi Sunak faced Sir Keir Starmer.
To the surprise of many in the Commons, Starmer announced that MP Natalie Elphicke had defected from the Conservatives to Labour.
'Why on earth are Labour accepting this Tory?'
'He was rattled throughout'
'It's not something you can prepare for'
'She's not destined to become a sparkly jewel'
'It gives Starmer yet another stick to batter him with'
'Starmer's launched a two-pronged attack on the Tory Party'
'This defection statement is seething'
'A third defection to come?'
'They've run out of road'
'Shall we have a little bet?'
'Sunak is slinging out the same old insults'
'The mud isn't sticking anymore'
Listen to the full show on Global Player: app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/...
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[@reiw5802]

Elphicke is the same Dover MP who supported fire and rehire on P&O staff, and the same who left negative comments about Marcus Rashford just because he wanted to feed hungry children. She'd better not stand for labour.

[@captainfrandad1138]

Apparently she’s not going to stand and Labour already has a candidate in place for that seat. This defection feels to me like it’s a very political move designed to embarrass the Tories and underline that their time is up.

[@anonomous8719]

That’s the perfect candidate for labour - in line with their values

[@garethpreen5929]

Of coarse she's standing for New Torries (I mean Labour). As George Galloway so eloquently put it, they are "two cheeks of the same backside ".

[@greamespens1460]

If a guy who was in Combat 18 join Hope not Hate why can't she be redeemed?

[@mocko9912]

​@@garethpreen5929 wouldn't bother giving him the time of day!

[@dw-yl3ln]

That was Sunak's worst PMQs. He looked knackered, he was whiny, he lacked convinction. He kept harping on about Labour being anti-semitic and was very obviously and gracelessly dodging questions. And finally, finally Starmer said 'he's getting ahead of himself. He's asking so many questions because he thinks I'm the Prime Minister already.' I've been waiting for him to say that for months.

[@uniquerebeljaney3639]

Bringing up Blair again because the Corbyn attacks weren't working. He's so desperate.

[@alexharrison2743]

I really can't remember a single PMQs where Sunak hasn't done terribly (and I tune in every week), but this week really is the most atrocious, pathetic, weak display he's put on to date. What an absolute coward - call a general election.

[@chatham43]

@dw Stalmer being anti-Semitic is totally unacceptable of course!

[@sempressfi]

​@@chatham43 yep, the way the labour party has treated Palestinians, including their own members, is pretty disgraceful

[@thejuiceking2219]

@@chatham43 is it wrong that at this point people calling labour anti-semetic has lost all meaning to me?

[@ThomasKing19933]

Who cares about Natalie Elphicke? Where's Sangita?

[@anonomous8719]

Sacked due to low viewership numbers

[@greamespens1460]

​@@anonomous8719 Yes they should bring Majid back

[@ThomasKing19933]

​@@greamespens1460 I liked Majid. I was dissapointed when he was pushed out.

[@benwilson6145]

Who cares! Get over your school boy crush!

[@ThomasKing19933]

​@@benwilson6145Grow up. Silly person.

[@finlayfraser9952]

Labour should have nothing to do with Elphicke, she has appalling views, she is acting out of cynical self interest!

[@tomcharles8786]

...she has already made alternative [lans...is standing down at the next GE...it's a token gesture, is all....

[@tryingmybest9819]

​@@tomcharles8786 I'm sure reform would have loved to have her

[@kityhawk2000]

In fairness Labour are taking her out of self interest too. It's another stick they can beat Sunak and the Tories with to show how even their own MPs have lost faith in them

[@tryingmybest9819]

@kityhawk2000 only in the short term. Doubt they'll stand down the person they picked to have Starmers choice forced on them. Starmer never had a principle he wasn't willing to sellout

[@ashimsen9520]

Which mirror that of her husband who was dropped by the Tories and she then took his seat. I don't trust her in the slightest

[@jasoncooper9391]

14 years of Tory Failure

[@georgemorrison9280]

……wait until you see Labour’s performance over the next five years .

[@kbspark]

​@@georgemorrison9280 Sheer whataboutery. What MIGHT happen in your fevered imagination,against what HAS happened in the last 14 years of Tory shambles . Can you name one thing that's improved since then ?

[@benrichardson3031]

​@@georgemorrison9280 Still a thousand times better than what we've currently got

[@Rosskles]

​@@georgemorrison9280 At least you've accepted the inevitable 😂

[@RoofLight00]

@@georgemorrison9280 Broadcasting straight from Leningrad.

[@user-sd3ik9rt6d]

We are all suffering under long Conservative

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

All by design, get everyone in poverty and arguing while the rich get richer.

[@traviscutler9912]

O'Brien forgets that he along with the establishment side of Labour helped Johnson by smearing Jeremy Corbyn as an antisemite despite there being zero evidence to support that accusation. They'd rather the incompetentce of the Tories than Corbyn's commitment to actual working class people as well as human Rights for EVERYONE, even brown people. O'Brien is duplicitous +w@+ but some of us remember. Free Sangita Myska and have a real journalist on the air instead of this establishment hack.

[@traviscutler9912]

​@@DeltaV-sayno2CCPprecisely

[@iskrajackal9049]

Vicious, deadly virus called Long COnservaVID

[@brianoriordan7281]

Completely agree she should not be given the Labour Whip. She clearly cannot be trusted and is simply trying to ensure she doesn't become unemployed.

[@Shephard1978]

An interview with Elphicke regarding food banks was precisely the reason I took my food bank just an assignment from my photography degree to a full blown photography project. Voted against free school meals for kids but urged people to support their local food bank! Awful!

[@limpethead]

What are people having kids for, if they can't feed them? Having kids and then making it everyone else's responsibility. I very much doubt you have asked anyone, that question. Maybe, l should take care of the assignment, and give it some kudos.

[@toriesdontgettazered7464]

​@@limpetheadno too bright eh!

[@limpethead]

@@toriesdontgettazered7464 sticking the old fingers in the ears are you? And going " la la la".

[@Shephard1978]

@@limpethead It’s like you started half way through a rant and aimed it at me. How exactly would you lend the project kudos? You don’t even know what the project is beyond the brief description one exists here!

[@limpethead]

@@Shephard1978 No l don't. But l know folk that go to food banks when the benefits get blown on drugs. That's a common. And when l say benefits, I'm talking £3k a month benefits and more.

[@user-sd3ik9rt6d]

She does not deserve to stand as a Labour candidate

[@waynereid9471]

She’s not She leaving at the next election

[@nichemphill8321]

she's not, it has been confirmed she will stand down at the election

[@marques-jr]

The BBC reports that she will stand down, so she's not a Labour candidate

[@pip1723]

Tories falling to bits like the country.

[@ineedmoreflavour1955]

Leftist purity tests like this from people like you are why the Corbyn left and such never win anything.

[@lazslostpierre9951]

Natalie Elphicke defecting to Labour. What wormhole have I travelled through, to what parallel universe. Bonkers!

[@alikamal3464]

It suggests to me even more now that Conservative and labour are different, only in name.

[@gm9460]

“Believes it’s a waste of his time” - of course he does. Sunak is arrogant and doesn’t believe he should be questioned at all

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

If she does stand, it will be a disgrace to the Labour party. She is awful in almost every way.

[@Provenom100]

Genuinely thought Sunak was going to start crying during that.

[@WilliamMacKenzie-dq6bf]

Could it be that it's finally dawning on Itchy Bawsack that his party are a shambolic disaster!

[@chatham43]

@provenom And for once you're being genuine!

[@chatham43]

@provenon And for once you're being genuine!

[@shaun906]

😪

[@FranzBieberkopf]

@@chatham43 You don't need to repeat yourself

[@PhilosoG]

Prime ministers questions is the perfect name for it, as it is all questions and not a single answered question...

[@chatham43]

@philo The pennies dropped!!😊

[@Paragon62]

Just like this channel not very balanced, complaint to ofcom again.alwats communist.

[@Dani20240]

We want a general election now.

[@carolkelly5578]

Natasha blends beautifully into that chair 😅

[@serhanmmiah7315]

It's infuriating when politicians ditch their party just to save their own skin. They should have the backbone to stick to their principles, even if it means facing the consequences head-on.

[@nickpage7333]

She won’t be a Labour candidate. This is the right political move by Labour right before PMQs and after the LEs. They’ll bin her when the GE is called.

[@carolynwestlake7670]

They’d better - terrible woman

[@michaelkemp6857]

Would you believe that in my post today was a news letter from Natalie Elphicke extolling all the wonderful things that the Tories have acheived for the towns of Dover and Deal and two hours later she has defected to Labour. You couldnt make it up could you!! The country has gone down the toilet - just pull the chain!!

[@LeeJPryer]

BRING BACK SANGITA

[@user-ol6rd7pl5t]

The party's over Rishi, grab your coat.

[@paulc1553]

Bring back Sangita Mysak. No to Vanessa Feltz.

[@williamelewis464]

She's moved on so should you

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

Get rid of James O Coward, Ferrari and Fogarty. All IDF apologists.

[@dannyquinn9128]

What's wrong with Feltz?

[@mwd331]

​@DeltaV-sayno2CCP just go away and listen to something else then, who are you to make demands on all our behalf?

[@combatwombat2134]

​@@DeltaV-sayno2CCP As someone who absolutely supports Israel, it's where I most disagree with James because I dislike Palestine support. I don't know what you've been watching but he isn't pro IDF. I'm pro IDF and he doesn't support a similar stance to me at all.

[@emmanuelminet1233]

I am so disappointed Sir Keir did not ask 'WHERE IS SANGITA?'.

[@seanomaille8157]

Where's Sangita? LBC has been captured by Israel lobby. LBC = Lost Basic Credibility! Time to make a stand James!

[@chatham43]

@Emma He's already married!

[@chatham43]

@emma Because he's not a creepy obsessive stalker like 👍 you!

[@paulc1553]

Tories are toast.

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

Labour will continue the corruption.

[@fergusdenoon1255]

not if they all defect into the Labour party...

[@DavidEdwards-uf5lg]

So are we iff slippery starmer gets into number 10.

[@RoofLight00]

@@DavidEdwards-uf5lg I can smell your desperation from here.

[@angiehaddington6462]

We can only hope....

[@martynjones8560]

For those who doubt the existence of zombies, I present exhibit A: The Tory Party.

[@kbspark]

Even Sunak doesn't belief the guff hes spouting . You can see it in his face and hear it in his voice . He's only staying there to lengthen his CV for his next job

[@Esta-Beed]

Rishi Rich Sunak the WEAK Tory noodle

[@joshuacampbell1625]

Sunak was incredibly vexxed throughout pmqs today

[@miketemple876]

Discombobulated, even

[@Nilguiri]

Nearly had a conniption.

[@pastlesandfish]

He's always vexed. You'd think someone as rich as him would be happier.

[@paulharrisharris5761]

When is Sunak going to throw the towel in 😩

[@thejuiceking2219]

when he's done siphoning taxpayer money into his and his family's pockets

[@martywestywood6004]

When he's finished the swim in his pool?

[@debswalker529]

Bring back Sangita the only journalist with true integrity 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@GerryT.]

Elphicke is hardly an advantage to Elphicke, she is seen as one of the thickest MPs from any party.

[@chatham43]

@Gerry. and you know all about being thick. Labour relys on it!

[@michaelcoward1902]

Meanwhile James isn't even slightly rattles about sangita being cancelled by Israel...

[@jamesdenny5078]

Starmers best PMQs arguably. Totally skewered Sunak, who, as usual, had no answers to anything.

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

I seem to remember Boris being an unelected PM, after he ousted Theresa May.

[@stuartwilson1190]

At least boris went to the public with an election

[@alexharrison2743]

​@@stuartwilson1190after a year in office and unlawfully proroguing parliament to try to get what he wanted. If the polls hadn't shown for him he wouldn't have called an election either and would have clung on as an unelected charlatan

[@davelangford2439]

What's your point?

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

@@davelangford2439 Boris is a backstabber.

[@davelangford2439]

@@MrPaulmorris7777 fair enough, agreed.

[@johnrussell3961]

Life is an exam. He thinks it’s course work. Bandanock is the worst. She’s hates having to explain to the house and select committees what she is doing and why.

[@JoelJoel321]

Badenoch*

[@blazzz13]

@@JoelJoel321 woosh

[@JoelJoel321]

@@blazzz13 Clearly. Would you mind explaining the joke?

[@stephenjon3502]

@@JoelJoel321Badenuf

[@michaelhyatt3191]

LBC needs to bring back Sangita

[@chatham43]

@michael And if not you'll start sulking!

[@annishilcock4587]

It was John Crace..... Rishi Sunak has just died on his feet. It is an act of cruelty to let him continue

[@peterspowage5752]

Oh he's hanging on to keep the earth shouldering, the Mail has already got 5 years of script written.

[@DarrenSmith-wu8cm]

You need to stop watching the circus and look at the bigger picture get ready for another banking crisis

[@peterspowage5752]

@@DarrenSmith-wu8cm Let me know when I can start shorting the pound.

[@DarrenSmith-wu8cm]

@@peterspowage5752 short the pound now it's up to you

[@nichemphill8321]

ELPHICKE will stand down at the Election

[@vomgrady]

I hope so but I haven't managed to find it being reported (yet)

[@marksuttonbiodynamicbreath2374]

@@vomgrady reporting it now by chris mason on the BBC

[@davecross4493]

She's standing down. They have a candidate already. Just looked it up.

[@vomgrady]

@@marksuttonbiodynamicbreath2374 Cheers. I'm relieved.

[@dianamincher6479]

We hope!

[@noellenn2122]

Won’t be surprised she defects to Reform the moment the GE is done.

[@susannahhunt100]

Bring Sangita back.

[@67Parsifal]

Relax. She’s moved just to humiliate Sunak. The scheduled Labour candidate will fight the seat.

[@POOPscooper302]

Natalie who ? Where's Sangita ?

[@djdoolittle1315]

Sangita 💚

[@chatham43]

@Mrs Little💄!

[@JO-tg6xm]

Why so little so late She made the calculation to go for the best way of holding to her job Vote her out if she stands Carpet bagger.

[@ashifhassan1148]

Bring back Sangita

[@chatham43]

@ash And change your bedsheets!😊😊

[@jake751]

Where is award winning journalist sangita???

[@djdoolittle1315]

Who are you? 😊

[@chatham43]

@jake In hiding from the stalkers!

[@chatham43]

@jake Hiding from the stalkers!

[@richardfinlayson1524]

The Conservatives need to just go away

[@Randomness1000]

Elphicke is standing down at the next election.

[@robandrews8047]

Where does it state this? Literally can’t find it anywhere

[@johnm2012]

​@@robandrews8047The BBC says that it understands this to be the case.

[@boldiegoldie]

@@johnm2012 just been confirmed by labour

[@richardsmith3881]

Vote her out

[@user-SubvurzIV]

Of course she is, they doubled the severance package so she's going to milk the taxpayers for as much as she can before she's gone.

[@joesoy9185]

You should know that she IS INDEED stepping down.

[@AngelicusImmortus]

Accepting any floor crossing is fairly straight forward. A rule of Politics, make your opponent look weak in any way you possibly can. Remember, they havent joined the party and have to do so to stand as an MP.

[@iandhr1]

As a Yank, who loves to observe UK politics, because Prime Minister's Questions can be more entertaining than anything on Netflix here are my thoughts. In a first-past-the-post system, the only way you can win is to have as big a coalition as possible. You use the term broad church we use big tent. To my understanding, she is standing down after the ending of this parliament. Having her sit as a Labour MP, even if it's only for a few months, tells lifelong Tory voters that it's okay to vote Labour in this election. And when are dealing with people who have no morals like the Tories, or people who are a direct threat to a democratic system like Donald Trump, sometimes you have to make uncomfortable alliances with people that you would rather avoid in ordinary situations. But unfortunately, those are not the times we're living in.

[@skrtdaily5533]

JUSTICE FOR SANGITA

[@31Blaize]

Of course it's a waste of time Sunak prepping for PMQs, he never answers anything and just uses the same phrases question after question so why should he bother? Now if he approached PMQs in the spirit it was supposed to conducted in, he would have to prepare some actual real answers...

[@sharonpearson420]

bring back Sangita

[@jimbo914]

Says a lot about Keir Starmers Labour party when far-right Tories can find a home there. But something something Corbyn something something antisemite

[@markbailey1970]

It does - it says they are now massively electable

[@Notalloldpeople]

As long as the broad church supports a move left (and can get elected), to my mind it’s a means to an end

[@mustrumridcully3853]

Something, something, Corbyn lost twice, something, something, worst election performances for decades. Move on.

[@DavidTurner-cn1xj]

So true ​@@markbailey1970

[@user-nj1qu1cs7s]

@@markbailey1970 No it says there almost as right wing as the Tories and she is about as extreme as can be.

[@simonanstey5546]

I won't be listening to this. Where is Sangita?

[@keremkilicay9995]

Bring back sangita you sellout

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

James O Coward likes money over principles.

[@mwd331]

​@@DeltaV-sayno2CCP what does he have to do with it? Seriously, have a think at what would happen if he commented on her exit from the company he works for? Give examples of other presenters doing the same?

[@combatwombat2134]

​@@DeltaV-sayno2CCP You know that James isn't responsible for the hiring and firing of staff at LBC, right?

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

People can speak out against war crimes on a national media platform but they are paid by Israel supporters to stay quiet.

[@Paragon62]

Champagne socialist, who sits there talking about the guardian,morally bankrupt.

[@marijadavidovic1316]

Bunch of gangsters

[@AlanTelford]

Sangita ?? Never thought James would be a client Journalist, so disappointed

[@anonomous8719]

Bully obrien always was

[@andygass9096]

Shes actually standing down at the next election.

[@patrickh8602]

Very disappointed that Kier Starmer accepted Elphick into the Labour Party.

[@chatham43]

@patrick It's so unfortunate...but I'll still vote for the party calling itself Labour!☺☺

[@mrd64]

Sunak doesn't want to do PMQs. How dare people ask him questions.

[@heshamallam8829]

It is so revealing for Labour to accept a similar MP, Labour is no longer Labour! And where is Sangita?!

[@peterspowage5752]

Wake up!! She'll only be there as long as Sunak is, and if her gesture precipitates his demise, she's cutting her own throat. What's Starmer got to lose?

[@alexharrison2743]

"Labour will retain their existing candidate in Dover and Deal at the next general election and Ms Elphicke will stand down", is the line on the BBC News website updated 30 minutes ago - they've accepted her for the impact & optics, but thankfully she's not going to stand in Dover

[@chatham43]

@hesham Hiding from you!😊

[@madgedeepers5746]

'Coup' is pronounced as 'coo' - but I put it down to the defection and all its ramifications

[@user-hh8tf4tb9q]

Would they take Jonathon Gullis if he jumped? Of course not, I doubt the tories really want him.

[@uniquerebeljaney3639]

No one really wants him, do they?

[@Jericho642]

They just promoted him didnt they?

[@jake90052]

At this rate, labour will be full of conservatives and we'll be stuck in the same old mess.

[@barryphillips6845]

What on earth Labour are doing accepting this woman is beyond me.

[@ate1o]

Why is Lindsey Hoyle still the Commons Speaker? Do you think he will remain as speaker after the election?

[@DBuckyBoy]

A move like this would have been like an actor going from ITV's Coronation Street to BBC's Eastenders. Nowadays, it's more like Corrie to Emmerdale

[@leadfarmer9396]

What happened to Sangita?

[@benwilson6145]

Hiding under a rock

[@annepoitrineau5650]

All I know about this woman makes her completely unfit to be a labour person.

[@user-nh5re9xr7l]

He was shaking throughout shitnak 😂

[@barrybarry6592]

A total opportunist and lacking in any moral fibre. Get rid before she wrecks the fragile labour party in both Dover and the country

[@NSW-ye3xw]

Sunak not calling a General Election now is pure and utter arrogance.

[@isabellucas1379]

Don't let Elphicke in. Send her to Reform!!!!

[@AuntieSally-go1lh]

As a labour member i say no way to Elphicke Please k Starmer don’t accept her its not right !

[@SplashTasty]

Learn to deal with realpolitik. It's how adults operate in politics.

[@Paragon62]

You’re still a member have u learnt nothing.

[@janeking9540]

Embracing a Tory into the Labour party is another reason I will not be voting Labour, after a lifetime of voting Labour. I have the rare luxury of voting with my conscience, as I live in a true blue constituency, much to my chagrin.

[@owennoble8575]

Where's Sangria?

[@ChrisSmith-mu1we]

Spain?

[@Mounhas]

Can’t labour say to Elphicke “go do one”. Awful person.

[@murder13love]

This just shows how close the labour and tory parties are 👍

[@jasoncooper9391]

Tories game is up 😂😂😂😂

[@bazjoan]

The MP is not standing at the next election that was on daily politics at lunch time.

[@fredpearce1531]

Elphicke isn’t standing for the General Election - Mike Tapp is the candidate for Labour for the new Dover/Deal seat

[@sergiodbd]

0:16 - thank you Rob 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😤

[@writtenenglish]

How could neither of you have known she had already confirmed she was not standing in the next GE?

[@jonpritz8358]

May I be so brave to ask what has happened to Sangita..😢

[@alana8863]

She's said she won't stand again.

[@bryansmith1920]

I'm sorry James, can I as a 70yr old Brit, trying to put my thoughts, in a semblance of order, 1 how is it Morally ok for a MP that was voted for as a(what ever political party)allowed to stay in Parliament, on resignation from that Party, Can office workers, tell HR, I'm going to be the CEO's PA Monday morning, 🤔🤔🤔 I feel a temper tantrum coming on,

[@andreasstavrinides6980]

Poor old Sunak. Utterly out of his depth.

[@ianbanks3016]

That a tory as appalling as Elphicke feels so comfortable joining Starmer's Labour party (and the fact Starmer is delighted to have her) tells me more about the direction it's heading in, than it tells me anything about turmoil in the Tory party. Grim stuff.

[@mbrierley144brierley3]

I heard she was stepping down.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Now, what about Sangita????

[@nickwalsh527]

Labour already has a candidate for Elphicke's Dover and Deal seat at the next election - Mike Tapp (actually it wont even be called Dover and Deal in the future due to boundary changes). I doubt very much that Elphicke will displace him and she's so toxic I dont know where else she might go, at least as a Labour canididate.

[@geeksworkshop]

I thought Mike Tap was a euphemism 😂 Great name for a plumber

[@leedavis6000]

Conservatives going to Labour says a lot about Labour.

[@brucemacdougall6121]

It shows how far to the right, Labour under Starmer have become.

[@BCJ1985]

It seems to have escaped your attention that Labour have already selected a candidate for that seat. She IS standing down.

[@jameshunt8373]

Shows how desperate Starmer is having her in the party.

[@williamevans9426]

Please could someone at LBC politely point out to Ms Clark that the word 'coup' is pronounced 'coo', not 'coop'! BTW, Elphicke has indicated that she will be standing down at the General Election.

[@susanpettitt713]

Blame Gordon Brown is all he had left....GE

[@NSW-ye3xw]

Ha ha, yes and whatever he did the tories had 15 years to fix it.