Two Conservative MPs Defect to Labour Party: Natalie Elphicke and Dan Poulter Criticize Rishi Sunak's Government Over Border Security and Nationalism

Dan Poulter cited concerns over nationalism as his reason for leaving the Conservative Party.
Natalie Elphicke accused the Conservative government of incompetence and expressed concern over border security.
The defections come at a time when Labour holds a commanding lead in the polls and recently inflicted significant losses on Sunak's party.
Two Conservative MPs, Natalie Elphicke and Dan Poulter, have defected to the Labour Party.
Two Conservative MPs Defect to Labour Party: Natalie Elphicke and Dan Poulter Criticize Rishi Sunak's Government Over Border Security and Nationalism

In a series of unexpected events, two Conservative MPs, Natalie Elphicke and Dan Poulter, have defected to the Labour Party in recent weeks. This defection marks a significant blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government.

Natalie Elphicke, who represents Dover and has been vocal about asylum seekers arriving in Britain via small boats, announced her decision on May 8, 2024. She accused the Conservative government of becoming a 'byword for incompetence and division,' while Labour has moved on from its past controversies under Keir Starmer's leadership.

Elphicke stated that she was disillusioned with Rishi Sunak's approach to border security, expressing concern over the UK's ability to keep its borders safe. She also criticized the government for failing in this regard and causing lives to be lost in the English Channel as small boat arrivals reached record levels.

Elphicke will not stand for re-election but has agreed to help Labour with housing policies. Her defection follows Dan Poulter's departure from the Conservative Party two weeks earlier, citing concerns over the party's move towards nationalism.

The defections come at a time when Labour holds a commanding lead in the polls and recently inflicted significant losses on Sunak's party in local elections. The prime minister's team attempted to downplay the significance of these events, urging MPs to focus on addressing the concerns of British people.

Jeremy Hunt, a senior Conservative figure, described Elphicke's defection as 'typical Westminster fun and games,' emphasizing that people are more concerned about economic issues. He warned against taking risks with inflation.

Lord Houchen, the Conservative mayor of Tees Valley, blamed Rishi Sunak for the current situation in the Conservative Party and urged MPs to focus on talking to the public instead of engaging in internal spats.

More than 8,000 people have arrived in Britain via small boats already this year. The government's controversial Rwanda plan, which aimed to permanently deport asylum seekers to central Africa, was a contentious issue for Elphicke and her former husband Charlie Elphicke. Charlie was jailed for sexual assault in 2020, and Natalie ended their marriage upon his conviction. She was temporarily suspended from the Commons for trying to influence his sentencing.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if there are any other Conservative MPs considering defecting to Labour.
  • The article does not mention any specific quotes from Rishi Sunak or his team regarding their response to the defections.

Sources

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

UK Prime Minister Sunak suffers further blow as another Conservative lawmaker defects to Labour

The Associated Press News Wednesday, 08 May 2024 11:55
  • Unique Points
    • Another Conservative lawmaker, Natalie Elphicke, defected to Labour Party
    • Elphicke is critical of Labour but disapproving of government’s approach to migrant crossings
    • Elphicke accused Rishi Sunak’s government of failing on border security and not being able to keep the UK safe.
    • More than 8,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats already this year
    • Elphicke will not stand for re-election but will help Labour with housing policies
  • Accuracy
    • Elphicke is the second Tory MP to defect to Labour in just two weeks
  • Deception (10%)
    The article contains editorializing and emotional manipulation by the author. The author uses words like 'chaotic', 'broken promises', 'incompetence', and 'division' to describe the UK government under Rishi Sunak. These are opinions that go beyond reporting facts. The author also quotes Elphicke making statements that express her emotions and opinions, such as '“We need to move on from the broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government.”' and '“From small boats to biosecurity, Rishi Sunak’s government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure.” These statements are not facts but opinions. The author also selectively reports details that support their position, such as the number of Conservative lawmakers who have defected to Labour recently and the number of people arriving in Britain in small boats in 2023. This is an example of selective reporting.
    • Elphicke was elected in 2019, taking over the Dover seat that had been held by her then-husband Charlie
    • Just under 30,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats in 2023
    • In a stunning move just ahead of the weekly prime minister’s questions, Natalie Elphicke crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join the ranks of Keir Starmer’s Labour Party
    • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was accused Wednesday of leading a “chaotic” government
    • Elphicke is the second Conservative lawmaker to defect to Labour in two weeks after Dan Poulter quit in anger over the government’s handling of the National Health Service.
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The author makes several statements about the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government being chaotic and incompetent. These are opinions and do not provide any evidence or logical reasoning to support these claims. However, since the author does not directly quote anyone else making these claims, it is considered an informal fallacy of appeal to authority when attributing these opinions to the author himself.
    • ]We need to move on from the broken promises of Rishi Sunak's tired and chaotic government[.
    • Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division.[
    • From small boats to biosecurity, Rishi Sunak's government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure.[
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Tory MP Natalie Elphicke in shock defection to Labour

POLITICO Europe Andrew McDonald Wednesday, 08 May 2024 11:39
  • Unique Points
    • Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke defected to the opposition Labour Party, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
    • Elphicke stated that under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division, while Labour has moved on from Jeremy Corbyn and now occupies the center ground of British politics.
    • Elphicke is the second Tory MP to defect to Labour in just two weeks, following former health minister Dan Poulter.
    • As MP for Dover, Elphicke has been outspoken about asylum seekers arriving in Britain via small boats and supported the government’s Rwanda plan to permanently deport asylum seekers to central Africa.
    • Elphicke’s former husband, ex-Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, was jailed for sexual assault in 2020, and she ended their marriage upon his conviction. She was temporarily suspended from the Commons for trying to influence his sentencing.
  • Accuracy
    • Elphicke is the second Tory MP to defect to Labour in just two weeks.
    • Labour leader Keir Starmer's party holds a commanding lead over the Conservatives in polls and recently inflicted significant losses on Sunak’s party in local elections.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Politics latest news: Elphicke apologises for comments about husband's sex assault victims

The Daily Telegraph Jack Maidment, Thursday, 09 May 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Lord Houchen, the Conservative mayor, has blamed Rishi Sunak for the current situation in the Conservative Party and urged MPs to focus on talking to the public.
    • Jeremy Hunt described Natalie Elphicke’s defection to Labour as typical ‘Westminster fun and games’ and emphasized that people are more concerned about economic issues.
    • Jeremy Hunt warned against taking risks with inflation.
  • Accuracy
    • ][article.facts[0]] Rishi Sunak accused of leading chaotic government [[otherArticles][1][facts][0]]
    • [][article.facts[1]] Jeremy Hunt described Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour as 'Westminster fun and games' [[otherArticles][2][facts][8]]
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

91%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour citing border security

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Eleni Courea Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:33
  • Unique Points
    • Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour, citing border security concerns.
    • Elphicke accused Rishi Sunak’s government of failing on border security and not being able to keep the UK safe.
  • Accuracy
    • Elphicke accused Rishi Sunak's government of failing on border security and not being able to keep the UK safe.
    • Elphicke claimed lives are being lost in the English Channel due to small boat arrivals at record levels.
    • More than 8,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats already this year.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Keir Starmer and Penny Mordaunt. She also uses inflammatory rhetoric by calling the Conservative party a 'byword for incompetence and division' and accusing Rishi Sunak of failing on border security.
    • “Rishi Sunak’s government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure,”
    • “Lives are being lost in the English Channel while small boat arrivals are once again at record levels. It’s clear they have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted.”
    • “It’s a sign of the progress that we’ve made that people recognise that on some of the key challenges facing the country, the Tories have failed.”
  • Bias (90%)
    The author expresses a clear political bias towards the Labour party and against the Conservative party. She uses language that depicts the Conservative party as incompetent and divisive, while portraying Labour as having made progress. The author also quotes Keir Starmer welcoming Elphicke to Labour and criticizing Rishi Sunak's government.
    • “Here is someone who is willing to make the significant step of switching across to Keir Starmer’s changed Labour party and that’s something we’re very happy to see.”
      • “It’s a sign of the progress that we’ve made that people recognise that on some of the key challenges facing the country, the Tories have failed.”
        • “Rishi Sunak’s government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure,”
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication