Elphicke yes, Abbott no, Farage…maybe? Making sense of the latest Tory defection to Labour

John McDonnell has said he is "shocked" by Natalie Elphicke defecting to Labour from the Conservatives because of previous comments she made that have "nothing to do with Labour values."
The former Shadow Chancellor also said that Ms Elphicke being able to join Labour meant that Sir Keir Starmer should restore the whip to Diane Abbott and Mr Corbyn.
He added: "The Labour Party is a membership party, and always will be no matter who is the leader. But the two examples of Diane and Jeremy, there is no argument now that they should have the whip withdrawn. That should be done instantly, I believe, because if you look at Jeremy and Diane's record, they've been standing up for socialist principles.
"They've devoted their life to the Labour Party. And that means I think they deserve to have the whip restored. And in the context of welcoming Natalie Elphicke, what does that say about judgement that has taken place at the moment?"
He said that restoring the whip to Ms Abbott and Mr Corbyn would "rebalance things" in the minds of voters, who might be dismayed by Ms Elphicke joining the party.
Andrew Marr also revealed that a Labour spokesman failed to definitively rule out the possibility of Nigel Farage joining the party.
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[@IMBlakeley]

Count Binface posted "Natalie Elphicke tried defecting to me first but I said no. I’m taking the trash out, not in." which is what Stammerer should have said.

[@bakedbean37]

🙂

[@Andyreally]

👏👏👏

[@purpleowl2075]

When a joke politician talks more sense than our elected representatives

[@Itsnotcomplicatedreally]

Long live the count

[@sheilaroddick5853]

"Count"me in.

[@OneDigitalSoul]

John McDonnell has more charisma in his little toe than Starter has ever had in his entire life thus far

[@MontyCantsin5]

True.

[@belindamay8063]

@OneDigitalSoul. Beware of charisma. Don’t rely on it. Mrs. Thatcher had it in spades.

[@connorparsfield7456]

I agree in my opinion he would have won the 2017 election if he was leader instead of Corbyn

[@TfL1901]

@@belindamay8063 Ooof yes,

[@keithfowler2013]

Boris Johnson's comeback. New leader of The Labour Party ??? Starmer's a disgrace !!

[@richarde8806]

Bring back sangita.

[@stephenmurray8559]

No.

[@inspectortanzi]

​@@stephenmurray8559 Yes.

[@BigALBoomer]

I heard she’s gone to Gaza?

[@MCMXC.a.D.]

@@stephenmurray8559 why not?

[@julianshepherd2038]

​@@BigALBoomerthey IDF isn't allowing journalists in so they don't show their war crimes. So no.

[@mikegalway4733]

Elphick welcome, Corbyn not- WOW

[@nicksimmons7234]

Elphick leaving. Corbyn won’t except the result of the EHCR report.

[@patcampton7163]

He rigtly said that the anti semitism.had been exagerated. Its now well. Documented especially by AsaWinstanley. Has Starmer read the Forde report?y​@nicksimmons7234

[@trebucheguevara1052]

@@nicksimmons7234yes he did. You’re either mistaken or lying

[@davidhogg8952]

I have been a Labour member for many years but in the light of recent events have cancelled my membership.

[@pennyyoung2291]

Come on, Analeisa, I read that letter Diane Abbot sent to the Observer. It wasn’t well explained, but I understood what she meant, and it is true. Black people face prejudice ‘on sight’, whereas Travellers and Jews can’t always be recognised as such. Was that such a heinous crime? Bring her back! She deserves our loyalty and support🌷

[@julianshepherd2038]

Elphicke has said much worse. Repeatedly.

[@chatham43]

@penny. Nice try.😂

[@michaelarloff1396]

​@@chatham43weigh anchor ⚓️ 😂

[@daraorourke5798]

Agree. When I was in England I never encountered racism until I opened my mouth.

[@user-eg4dv1bm2e]

Because racism is racism and is wrong - it was almost liek she was belittling prejudice against jews at a time when the pereception of Labour was anti semitic.

[@user-pf2vg2mp8r]

I'm waiting for Starmer to welcome Farage into the Labour Party.

[@joelboy19]

😆

[@julianshepherd2038]

“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.” ― George Orwell, Animal Farm

[@michaelarloff1396]

Fantastic quote mate! Another favourite of mine: So long as they (the Proles) continued to work and breed, their other activities were without importance. Left to themselves, like cattle turned loose upon the plains of Argentina, they had reverted to a style of life that appeared to be natural to them, a sort of ancestral pattern...Heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbours, films, football, beer and above all, gambling filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult.”

[@arabellacox]

I like; 'all animals are equal, except some are more equal than others'!

[@belindamay8063]

@@michaelarloff1396 It’s much, much worse now. We don’t even connect with each other, let alone quarrel. It’s just one person, adult or child, , interacting with a screen, alone in a room. Eating factory-food off a cardboard plate. Even Orwell didn’t think it would get as bad as that.

[@earlpringle8066]

Bring back Sangita NOW. Best journalist on LBC hands down

[@davidpearn2484]

I can't believe labour as welcomed Elphick with open arms Jesus wept

[@julianshepherd2038]

It is very hard to take in.

[@californiadreamin8423]

It’s politics. She’ll be gone at the general election. If there is a vote of no confidence in the government, her vote could make the difference to get rid of the Tories. McDonnell is talking his usual Comintern rollox.

[@richardlewis7498]

labour and tory = the uniparty

[@FallenPhoenix86]

She crossed the floor and will be standing down in a few months. Its worth it solely for the embarrassment it causes the Tories.

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

@@FallenPhoenix86 Spot on....the many being critical of Labour for allowing it really dont understand Politics at all. She is the perfect weapon to use against Sunak.

[@coppershark1973]

How insulting for all of us Labour supporters. Labour does not NEED people like her. You are making the TORY spread term ‘they are all the same’ legitimate. Idiotic own goal, AGAIN!

[@kawallabair3216]

Not really an own goal, it's a pragmatic device - It hurts the Tories more than it hurts Labour, so it's a shot worth taking. Unassailable principles lead to dogmatism. Just look at Liz Truss. I can't wait for the country to be lead by a pragmatic Labour government.

[@chatham43]

@coppershark Labour don't want defectors nor brexit voters!

[@richardlewis7498]

​@@chatham43So you wouldnt want to see ex labour mps like benn foot heffer shore back in the party even john mcdonald is a brexit voter and so was corbyn until he thought he cud get in power

[@patcampton7163]

​@@kawallabair3216 I don't see it. The Tories are already damaged below the water line. This is an insulgvto all the labourvmembers and voters who havd supported Labouf gor years.

[@belindamay8063]

@coppershark. But she is leaving politics. Starmer is a lawyer, nobody’s fool.

[@TheTwosliceToaster]

I see that Anneliese Dodds has become quite proficient at answering questions without directly answering them.

[@Ptf74]

"genuine ideological conversion". Oh come on! Pull the other one!

[@johnnyoneill1676]

Would be more of an issue if she would be going to run again in the next election.

[@gchelem]

If anyone had any doubt about Starmer integrity, I think this decision lifted it. What a punk!

[@carlpierce2486]

In other news Boris joins Labour to try new parties.

[@flowsnake8732]

BRING BACK SANGITA! First vid I've watched since you sacked her. And that was only cos it looked particularly interesting. Won't be watching many more (I used to watch quite a few) until I hear she's been offered her job back.

[@chatham43]

@flow Will you keep your word this time? We'll be watching!☺

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

I wish I had a pound for each one that states they are going to unsub, not post, not watch etc etc and are still commenting !...almost daily.....I would be as rich as Sunak.

[@bumblingborisbuffoon6259]

Her crossing over will weigh heavily on Sunak, who is already on very thin ice in the polling. There is no Tory win spin to be had here.

[@vincentblack7467]

She's more right wing than Braverman you couldn't make it up!!! Starmer the tory...

[@traviscutler9912]

The labour party bringing in a conservative that is right of the Tories is emblematic of what Starmer stands for. Absolutely nothing.

[@californiadreamin8423]

Wise up. She’ll be history at the general election , and if there is a vote of no confidence in the government then her vote could make all the difference. Are you a Corbyn zealot ?

[@michaelarloff1396]

Zionism

[@StratsRUs]

" You let one in, you let 'em all in ! " haha. Starting with the Far Right one

[@taykitrleevitt4314]

Crossing the floor of the house is a tradition of dissent... It's a reflection of Tory ineptitude.

[@willtricks9432]

One votefewer for the Tories and one more for Labour works for me. She is unpleasant.

[@ukporkpie7829]

Absolutely love that response from John McD to that question about Farridge

[@AshenVictor]

I think Mr McDonnell needs a briefing on what the new values of the Labour party are. They don't have any, and that is going to be a big problem in the next 5 years when they have pursued the exact policies of the Tory centre right that got us into this mess and fixed absolutely nothing in the country.

[@chatham43]

@Ashen You mean the billions spent on Lockdown which gave us high inflation and high interest rates which adversely affects the poor the most. Spot on!

[@belindamay8063]

@ashenVictor. Starmer is going to renationalise the railways and end private bus companies. A million miles away from Tory policy. What does that tell you ? The Hard-left are always working themselves up. But what are they offering ?

[@Barralet58]

Sangita❤

[@matthewparkes7066]

Wow - new drinking game - drink every time the chair of the Labour party actually answers the question asked, rather than just giving a long, scripted word salad that avoids the question completely (probably best to save this one for dry July)

[@yetidodger6650]

Where's Sangita?

[@stephenmurray8559]

Stop posting that. Nobody cares. If you don't want to watch lbc then go away.

[@stevestokes-li8xr]

Sinitta was recently spotted on an old episode of top of the pops singing So Macho, a real toe tapper !

[@stevestokes-li8xr]

@@stephenmurray8559 you’re, So Macho !

[@vincentblack7467]

Don't care..

[@stevestokes-li8xr]

@@stephenmurray8559 Toy Boy was another dance floor filler. 👍

[@damianjaviervediamcmahon7149]

Leave smartphones to one side for a moment. The biggest threat to children right now is a Tory Government

[@tyromenobber-fb2ls]

So a die hard right wing , anti immigration, anti EU, Pro Brexit , ERG member...joins labour ...gotta laugh. ..citing that Tories are too soft on immigration. And labour accept her with open arms in return , word is, for a peerage .This is how rancid our politics has become.

[@californiadreamin8423]

She’ll be history at the general election. Her vote could make the difference if there is vote of no confidence. Wise up its politics. John McDonnell is just a Corbyn clone and responsible for 5 more years of Tory rule.

[@tobymarshall8142]

Ooooooh, I heard it here first. For some reason, her getting a peerage from Labour would be what finally kills any residual trust in Starmer for me.

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@tobymarshall8142 Gossip.

[@belindamay8063]

@@tobymarshall8142 Don’t bet on it. [And what trust did you ever have ?] ‘

[@fedz7202]

Yeah but where's Sangita? 😮

[@Cherrytune386]

Give it a rest 🤣

[@markmac9515]

Shows how far right Starmer has taken the Labour party. Labour the new tories!

[@DeeLynn]

Labour is really working to get my vote. * Sarcasm*

[@callum4796]

I read that she's not running in the next election so I'm not as angry if I would be if she was. If she was running for labour in the next election then I'd be furious

[@Charles61284]

They’ve just lost my vote, I’m trying as hard as I can to rid myself of these tories and Starmer welcomes them into the party. I’m 100% withholding my vote this autumn. I just can’t vote for another Tory party.

[@briansteele2723]

Elphicke should have become and independent rather than infecting the labour party

[@belindamay8063]

@briansteele. She’s not standing again. Or weren’t you listening ?

[@michaelspencer6318]

Its a massive f ing mistake

[@RobinHarris-nf4yv]

No it’s not

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

Go ahead....explain why then ?

[@carlpierce2486]

No Sangita => Limiting Britains Conversation.

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

With so many comments about her I think its increased it.

[@ronstriebig2749]

Starmer oh dear

[@RobinHarris-nf4yv]

Fantastic win for Starmer

[@thehealinggame]

I was never been a fan of Diane Abbott, but she should be given the whip back as she has been treated unfairly.

[@davidwalsh8127]

Dodds is once again too frightened to say what she previously believed. How can she support Elphicke. As the Chair of the Labour Party she is there to uphold Labour Party values!😮

[@rialobran]

What does anyone expect? 45 years of right wing governments it's now hard to know which party is which. Bring back Sangita and Jeremy.

[@Judgementday-qp1ol]

The biggest concern should be that the Labour leadership have gone Right Wing enough, to attract these People. Most of us seen this happening.

[@smitapatel5930]

Can’t believe how these guys behave in the workplace. I couldn’t believe how the labour front benchers faces sneering at the prime minister at question time today! You might not like him or agree with him but he is the prime minister! The Conservative Party is not a party anymore as it is ungovernable! However Labour for me did not come out very well either and leaves me with a question who to vote for! Would you treat a colleague like that in your work place? They are supposed to be solving the country’s problems and all we get is scoring points against each other! How on earth did we get here!

[@geeksworkshop]

I've been warning people about smart phones and children since they came out. It's so very obvious they should have never been allowed into the hand of children.

[@jonscotty3647]

😂😂😂😂😂 if Labour do get in this country is just snowboarding down the pan 😅

[@alangriffey8947]

Keir Starmer has made the Labour party a joke.

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

Oh I get it now....the joke thats led to them being way ahead in the polls and winning all those seats in the recent local election...what you meant to say was in YOUR opinion they have become a joke but obviously quite a few disagree !

[@JohnMckenna-kf9vx]

I wonder what Sangita thinks of this defection.

[@user-wt4xw4bv3u]

I left the Labour Party because I saw this coming like half the members that used to belong

[@itequipment8251]

Abbott is a toxic stick that the Tories could use against Labour. The prospect of her being Home Secretary was one of the factors that made Labour unelectable in 2019.

[@michaelcoward1902]

I'm still trying to make sense of how Marr can look himself in the mirror whilst keeping quiet about sangita...

[@chatham43]

@michaelcoward Pity you can't!!

[@user-xc8ir7ng9z]

An establishment lackey. Leading Britain's Censorship.

[@Cherrytune386]

Yawn, give it a rest!

[@tamhunter5025]

Why don't they walk out on the tories enmass..to what ever party would take them and call an election and laugh at blighty

[@jaydenlee2774]

I was Tory party but now Labour activitist because then my voice is painful to the unfit for purpose PM and his lier tories

[@AlanTelford]

Natalie Elphicke is a perfect example of why our party is just Tory lite

[@rpmr3845]

Where’s Sangita ?

[@jhonson7079]

Once a Tory always a Tory

[@garethjenkins6273]

Yeah. But enough about Starmer...

[@michaelkemp6857]

Labour has lost all credibility taking on a lightweight like Elphicke - shes more right wing than the Austrian corporal!!

[@jonathanchalk2507]

We're fed up Farage's latest comebacks.

[@eddygrunge4749]

Natalie Elphick will not be in the Labour Farty for long.

[@azy83]

If it takes the party 10+ months to deal with a disciplinary issue with one member, how can we expect this party to deal with any of the matters critical to this country in a timely manner? Short answer: We can’t!

[@MrGalvinjohn]

Brings clarity to where Labour is at

[@martinrooms3084]

Where is sangita?

[@lacanmark]

Sorry, John. He didn't 'misspeak'. What nonsense.

[@Dingbat-tb5wz]

That woman is a true politician. Perfected the art of the word salad.

[@californiadreamin8423]

Says the 9 month KZbinr.

[@Dingbat-tb5wz]

@@californiadreamin8423 Congratulations. You win my "Dumbest Comment Of The Day" award: the Golden Sphincter of Kathmandu. First, why imagine I personally have been on YT only 9 months? Because this account is that age? I expect if I called myself Darth Vader, someone like yourself would think I must come from a galaxy far far away. Second, even if I were on YT only 9 months, why would that be relevant vis à vis my original comment? Stick around my friend; I've a feeling more awards are destined to come your way.

[@caboosealmighty3735]

@@Dingbat-tb5wz they said a similar thing on another post. Just a easy way for them to disregard opinions he doesn't like.

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@Dingbat-tb5wz Hi Dingbat….take it up with KZbin . They clearly state you subscribed 9 months ago….was that when your father developed more than a sparkle in his eye !!!

[@Dingbat-tb5wz]

@@californiadreamin8423 This what you do isn't it: trawl social media making snide nonsensical comments for the sole purpose of bringing yourself to the attention of others in an objectionable way, because you have nothing else in your life. This is what gives you your fulfilment and satisfaction. Crawl back into your corner and resume gnawing on whatever it is you gnaw on while you're there. Have the last word. I've no doubt it'll be of no more substance than your first, and I'm done with you

[@welshaccenttutorials3104]

We miss you on Sundays on bbc

[@hilarykirkby4771]

Thank you John. I wouldn't give that awful woman from Kent the time of day. I predict her presence on the Labour benches will end in tears, which Diane Abbott's return would mitigate. However, I do feel that Ms Dodds gave some straight forward answers.

[@busterbuster1641]

Annaliese Dodds = typical politician never answering a question and pure smarm. Red tory.

[@jnielson1121]

Unless there's some kind of deal that's been done I imagine she'll cause Starmer problems...

[@johnoliver3518]

Don’t ask me I gave up after they abandoned clause 4

[@user-zc4yd9ss7h]

Personally I would even welcome Boris into Labour - but only if he agreed to canvass in a clown outfit and drag a fridgeful of wine bottles everywhere he went.

[@sandyellis28]

It’s a great coup for Lab’s campaign - 2 recent defections covering Tory NHS issues, smalls boats & housing. It rattles the Govt, will cut thru to Tory voters on the demise & nonsense policies & also gives Lab intel. Elphicke’s only there with Lab for few months. She’s standing down at GE & Lab has already selected their own Dover candidate. She’s not on the policy benches so I’d say no problem but no deals, peerage or anything like that. +Diane Abbott should have whip restored.

[@eddiehughes6074]

Keep those two away from the party now they are the reason Tories got into power! Do whatever it takes to get them out

[@ThatGuyThanus]

It’s not Labour, anymore!

[@hanselmansell7555]

Tories are now Reform, Labour are now the Tories and Green are now Labour. Vote Green ❎️

[@waynereid9471]

😮😢 You must be rich 😅

[@mikepost8965]

Labour would not have taken her if she was standing at the next GE

[@nicksimmons7234]

Yep 100% Most people don’t follow politics, all they’ll see is another MP going to Labour. Every time Rishi attacks Labour asylum policy he can say your MP don’t believe you.

[@malcolmstockbridge2569]

Oh you are so correct.....happily she can be used to Labours advantage for a few months before she goes

[@ronaldforkings567]

We can all repent

[@chrisrobinson860]

Dodgy Dodds

[@janetpazio9992]

Starmer's supping with the devil

[@Peter-Ac]

This is the final straw, no labour vote from me

[@donttrip8282]

Why are we pretending this is anything but unprincipled opportunism? She wants to keep her job, Starmer's Labour is an unprincipled neoliberal entity with no plans ro significantly change anything apart from their own career aspects. A perfect match for the Purple Tories.

[@GaetanoCostanza]

What a joke labour turning into. thankfully not In government

[@ThePearson1945]

Simply, Big NO to Laboratory Party in General election!!

[@waynereid9471]

Who then? Or are you part of the 60% that don’t vote

[@thecritic81]

Is it true that KS is in negotiations to being back 30p Lee?

[@oliverleonard7730]

What next Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson defecting to Labour?

[@robertstrathern7040]

Elphicke standing down in 6 months not a big deal really

[@annettehadley9718]

True !

[@callum9999]

It's an incredibly big deal if you hold progressive views (or at the speed Starmer is storming towards the right, pretty centre-left views), traditionally vote Labour. Why on Earth would I vote for a party that expels people on the left and courts the far-right?

[@amandag5072]

But how many Labour members will leave Labour until she steps down?

[@TapeCollageForEloise]

I think it is quite a big deal considering how many life-long labour voters currently feel forced out of the party and completely disillusioned with it's barely diluted tory ideologies

[@RedcoatMic24]

So why have her in the first place? Her becoming an independent would be just as easy to say "Tories are crumbling". More trouble than it's worth for a party that's massively ahead in the polls and just has to wait to win.

[@thehealinggame]

Love John Mcdonald. I dont agree with Elphickes views and she should be expelled if repeated. Restore the whip to Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn

[@jim2010ful]

End LBC Censorship,Bring Back Sangita,NOW.

[@Cherrytune386]

Move on.

[@annettehadley9718]

Who ?

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

Even the Tory Voters have to make compromises. Even they,especially the Brexit/Tory Voter,have to learn the hard lessons of life and admit they might have been wrong. About Brexit,the Tory’s and Immigration ,they might be wrong….!

[@HuplesCat]

It is a win win for Labour.

[@MonsurAlam-pp3gi]

I reality tories aren't abandoning their party. We saw with Boris MPs resigning and then re electing themselves to different or higher positions. They are doing the same leaving one position of power to another. Today if labour were to loose the election you would see these MPs jumping back.

[@bobrobertson9547]

No EU membership - no vote.

[@MrFlamingo2002]

Anyone who understands strategy knows this was a quick win for Starmer. Elphicke is not standing at the next election, so this was a chance for both Elphicke & Starmer to get a point across. She’ll be gone in a couple of months, thank goodness & so will the Tories.

[@yetidodger6650]

Where is Sangita?

[@gadfageyar]

Abandothe centre ground, bit rich coming from her.

[@theshadowdirector]

I think it's less about winning voters over to Laboir and more about damaging the Conservatives. It will likely zend more Tories to Reform, which helps Labour anyway.

[@kashmone9y99]

How long does it take to say Jeremy corbyn isn't a antisemite

[@robertbest4398]

Labour brutal same Tories wrecked country shocking

[@inspectortanzi]

That's because Starmer's more Tory than the Tories are. No wonder she's crossed the bench.

[@matthewcook9404]

😂😂😂

[@michaelpowell6805]

As that lady said in Poltergeist....'....all are welcome....all are welcome.....'....

[@jake751]

Bring back award winning journalist sangita.

[@tenniskinsella7768]

Anybody except labour

[@sambaggott6587]

Starmer believing that Elphick represents Labour values and deserves the whip and that Abbott and Corbyn don’t is exactly why I just can’t justify voting for Labour under him. Greens it is.