British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing accusations of leading a “chaotic” government after another Conservative lawmaker, Natalie Elphicke, defected to the main opposition Labour Party. Elphicke, who represents the Dover constituency in southern England, criticized the broken promises and incompetence of Sunak’s government, particularly focusing on their handling of migrant crossings from France. This move comes as Labour, led by Keir Starmer, appears to be gaining momentum ahead of a looming general election, with Elphicke being the second Conservative lawmaker to switch sides in just two weeks.
Elphicke’s defection is surprising as she was previously considered to be on the right of the Conservative Party and has been critical of Labour in the past. However, she has become increasingly displeased with the government’s approach to border security, particularly in relation to migrant crossings by sea. Sunak, who has made reducing the number of migrant arrivals a key issue, has faced criticism for his controversial plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that over 8,000 people have already made the dangerous crossing this year.
In response to Elphicke’s move, Starmer welcomed her and Chris Webb, the new Labour lawmaker in Blackpool South, to the party. He called for Sunak to call a general election, stating that the Conservatives cannot continue in power when even a prominent lawmaker like Elphicke has lost trust in Sunak’s ability to manage the borders. The Labour Party has been gaining ground, as evidenced by their success in recent local elections where they made gains and won key mayoral races, even in areas that voted for Brexit in 2016.
Elphicke’s defection may also help Labour deflect Conservative attacks during the election, as they cannot accuse Labour of seeking to reverse Brexit since she stated that Labour has accepted Brexit and its economic policies. However, her switch has raised concerns within the Labour Party itself, with the left-wing Momentum group criticizing her past comments demonizing refugees and aid groups. The date of the general election in the UK is up to the prime minister, with Sunak indicating that he expects it to take place in the second half of 2024, despite calls from Labour for an earlier election.
Overall, the defection of Natalie Elphicke to the Labour Party highlights the growing challenges facing British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative government. The accusation of a “chaotic” government and dissatisfaction with their handling of key issues such as migrant crossings are further fueling support for the Labour Party, which is gaining momentum ahead of a potential general election. With Brexit still a divisive issue and the political landscape shifting, the UK’s political future remains uncertain as parties jockey for support and position themselves for the upcoming election.
