Babak Belurs

Jumat, 10 Mei 2024

Sharon Beshenivsky: Piran Ditta Khan jailed for life for murdering police officer - Sky News

The mastermind of an armed robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead in 2005 has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years.

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was last month found guilty of murdering the West Yorkshire Police officer, who was shot at point-blank range at Universal Express travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford.

Prosecutors said that although Khan was not one of the three smartly dressed men who carried out the raid, he had played a "pivotal" role and was guilty of murder "as surely as if he pulled the trigger on that pistol himself".

PC Beshenivsky, 38 - who had only been a police officer for nine months - and colleague PC Teresa Milburn, then 37, were both unarmed when they responded to an alarm call and were shot in the chest on 18 November 2005.

PC Beshenivsky collapsed to the floor with an immediately fatal injury, while PC Milburn survived after radioing for help while she was on the pavement coughing up blood.

Khan fled to Pakistan three months after the shooting and evaded arrest for 15 years until he was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2020 and extradited to the UK last year.

He pleaded guilty to robbery and was found guilty of murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

The judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, handed him a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years today, telling Khan he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

He told Khan he was sure he had the idea of robbing the travel agency, and "intended that the weapons should be used to kill if necessary to do so", adding that he was part of a "planned enterprise" and shared "murderous intent".

He praised PC Beshenivsky for responding to the call "when she and her colleague had no way of knowing what they would be confronted with when they got there".

"PC Sharon Beshenivsky's courage and commitment to duty that day cost her life," he said.

Khan, wearing a blue tracksuit and listening to his interpreter, had his head down as he was sentenced.

He is the last of the seven men involved in the raid to be tried - Mustaf Jama, Yusuf Jama and Muzzaker Shah are serving life sentences with minimum 35-year terms after being found guilty of murder, robbery and firearms offences in 2006 and 2007.

'A hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice'

PC Beshenivsky had three children and was stepmother to her husband Paul Beshenivsky's two children from a previous relationship. Her widow and children watched as Khan was sentenced.

The court heard she was nearing the end of her shift and talked about how she was looking forward to her youngest daughter Lydia's fourth birthday party moments before volunteering for the fatal call.

In a victim personal statement read at court, Lydia praised her mother as "a hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice".

Lydia said she was "too young and innocent" to understand what happened and was told she "screamed her head off" after being told that her mother had died, although she has no memory of it.

Read more: How fatal robbery unfolded

She said she was proud of her mother for "doing the job she loved", adding: "There will always be a void in my life - a void that should have been filled with my mum's presence but as a result of violent, callous actions by you, Piran Ditta Khan, and your associates that day, you robbed me of a future and precious time with my mum.

"Every birthday is a reminder of what happened that day. It has recently been Mother's Day, and while my friends are celebrating with their mums, I sadly can never do that."

Paul Beshenivsky, who had been married to PC Beshenivsky for four years when she died, said telling the children what had happened was "the hardest thing I have ever had to do".

"The way we lost Sharon was in the most brutal, callous and futile way," he said in a statement.

"If Piran Ditta Khan had never organised the robbery, Sharon would never have been shot dead and she would have come home that day."

Botched robbery

Khan was the only member of the group who was familiar with the travel agency and had previously used them to send money to family in Pakistan, the court heard.

At his trial, Khan told the jury the owner owed him £12,000 and thought the men sent to recover the money would only "intimidate" the staff.

Three men went into the travel agency, posing as customers before jumping over the counter and demanding money.

They struck several staff members with their weapons, tied their hands and threatened to "shoot the youngest" if they were not given cash.

The men initially demanded £100,000 before stating they wouldn't leave without £50,000 and the business owner's son managed to press an alarm which alerted police.

When PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn arrived on the scene, the robbers shouted "the feds are here" and fled with around £5,400 after one of them gunned down the officers.

The court heard Khan, who had told his accomplices they would make between £50,000 to £100,000, did not leave the safety of the Mercedes SLK used as the lookout car.

PC Milburn said in a statement she and her colleague "didn't have a chance" and described PC Beshenivsky "stopping in terror" as she approached the door of Universal Express and saw the gunman.

She was the seventh serving female officer ever to be killed in the line of duty in Britain and left behind her husband Paul, three children and two stepchildren.

'A journey seeking truth and justice'

In a statement, her family said 18 November 2005 "is a date that will remain etched in our memories forever" and was the start of an almost 19-year journey".

"A journey seeking the truth and justice for Sharon, who was not just a police officer, but a loving mum, wife, daughter, sister, and a friend to many," they said.

"Our journey seeking justice and closure of the judicial process is now at an end. This journey has and continues to be difficult for us all."

The statement added: "No prison sentence could ever compensate us for Sharon's life and our loss, but we will move forward knowing that justice has been served.

West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Twiggs added: "For 18 years we have never given up on getting justice for Sharon and Teresa, and today their families have received that justice.

"Sharon was murdered in the line of duty, in what was a totally unnecessary act. Sharon was doing her job and protecting the public."

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2024-05-10 14:15:00Z
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Sir Keir Starmer has 'no doubt' Rwanda flights will get off ground - but Labour would cancel scheme 'straight away' - Sky News

Sir Keir Starmer has said he has no doubt the government will get flights off the ground to Rwanda but Labour would "cancel the scheme straight away" if they win the next general election.

The Labour leader, announcing his party's policy on illegal immigration in Dover, said the government's flagship policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda will not work.

"They will get flights off the ground, I don't doubt that but I also don't doubt it will not work," he said.

When asked by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby if that means he would stop any deportation flights to Rwanda on day one of a Labour government, he said: "We will scrap the Rwanda scheme.

"I said that to you when we last met last week, the time before last and you know, that means ending the scheme.

"Absolutely. Flights and all."

He added: "We will cancel the scheme - of course that means we won't operate the scheme at all, it's a gimmick, I won't flog a dead horse.

"We're going to get rid of the policy straight away."

Labour later clarified the party would not stop any flights already planned but would not schedule any further.

Follow live politics updates

The government's Rwanda scheme, aimed at deterring asylum seekers arriving in the UK in boats over the Channel, has been stalled by legal arguments but last month became law. However, no flights have yet departed.

The scheme means any asylum seeker entering the UK illegally from a safe country such as France could be sent to Rwanda where their asylum claims would be processed. They would not be allowed to apply to return to the UK.

As Sir Keir announced Labour's plans to stop small boats coming across to the UK, Sky News witnessed a Border Force boat with about 70 migrants, including at least one child, disembarking in Dover after being picked up in the Channel.

In the speech in Dover alongside new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke, Sir Keir insisted "our asylum system must be rebuilt".

As part of Labour's plan, he announced:

• A new Border Security Command, funded by scrapping the Rwanda scheme, with "hundreds of specialist investigators" from the NCA, Border Force, CPS, MI5 and Immigration Enforcement

• Hopes for a new partnership with Europol and new intelligence-sharing networks

• New counter-terrorism powers to allow officers to conduct stop and searches at the border, close bank accounts, trace movements and shut off internet access of people smugglers

• A rules-based asylum system with fast-track reforms, an enforcement unit and a returns agreement with the EU.

More politics:
PM says economy has turned a corner as recession ends
Scotland's new leader scraps gender recognition reforms

Will Labour's new plan woo voters?

By Darren McCaffrey, political correspondent

Given the impressive GDP figures released this morning, Labour needed a counter narrative to Conserative crowing.

And so it was to Dover and migration for Sir Keir Starmer to put some flesh on the bones of what a Labour government would do to tackle the small boats crisis.

More money, hundreds of more specialist investigators and the involvement of counter-terrorism are all part of the plan - funded by savings from abandoning the Tories' Rwanda scheme.

It's fascinating that Starmer now feels confident enough, not only talking about illegal migration (not traditional Labour territory) but taking the government head-on, on an issue that he feels is up for grabs.

It demonstrates Starmer's strength inside Labour but also the Conservatives' perceived weakness on illegal migration.

The Rwanda scheme though, is in principle popular with lots of the public, so if Labour is to abandon it, with this frankly less eye-catching alternative announced today - it leaves one big question - will their plan cut it with voters?

The Labour leader said: "We will restore serious government to our borders, tackle this problem at source and replace the Rwanda policy permanently."

Turning a blind eye to people smuggling was "not a progressive or compassionate position", Sir Keir said.

He said "our asylum system must be rebuilt and our borders must be secured", and accused the Tories of being driven from a serious party of government "onto the rocks of their own delusion" in their pursuit of "gesture politics" over immigration.

"Our rules-based system should align with global rules that protect individual human rights," Sir Keir added.

"That is in our interests and the right thing to do."

Sir Keir insisted new Labour MP Ms Elphicke's defection from the Tories on Wednesday reflected the mood of the country as Rishi Sunak is "clinging on" to power.

Asked if he was concerned about the backlash from within the Labour Party to Ms Elphicke's defection, he said: "This is a very important and significant crossing of the floor for reasons Natalie set out.

"I think anyone reading the words she set out this morning would be persuaded this is a very significant thing, you've got a Tory party that is losing votes, losing MPs, losing councillors, losing mayors across the country."

Reacting to Sir Keir's announcement, Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "Labour have no plan to stop the boats.

"Labour have an illegal immigration amnesty, Labour blocked of the deportation of violent sexual offenders and Labour voted over 130 times against tougher legislation to stop the boats. They will create a haven for criminal gangs, not stop them.

"Even Labour MPs are saying Labour can't be trusted to stop the boats which shows you nothing will change.

"If people can apply for asylum from outside the UK then unlimited claims can be made, many of which will have to be accepted under the law and even then, many of those declined will then get on a small boat anyway."

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2024-05-10 11:03:45Z
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Weather warning as thunderstorms to follow 'hottest day of the year' this weekend - The Independent

Thunderstorms and heavy rain are set to hit large swathes of the UK on Sunday just one day after Saturday could become the hottest day of the year so far.

Saturday is predicted to see temperatures rise as high as 26C in parts of south-east England, including around London, in what would be the hottest day of the year.

However the hot weather could be short-lived as a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is set to come into place on Sunday.

Impacting large swathes of Wales and western England from north to south, the warning will come into place from midday on Sunday and remain until 10pm.

Map showing the location of the thunderstorm weather warning on Sunday (Met Office)

The warning comes with a possibility of flooding, travel delays and power cuts.

“Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out in the south of this area late Sunday morning and early Sunday afternoon, moving steadily north whilst growing into larger areas of rain before clearing the area,” the Met Office said.

“Some intense downpours are possible in a few places, giving up to 30mm in less than an hour and perhaps 40-50mm over 2 to 3 hours leading to surface water flooding. Hail, frequent lightning strikes and strong wind gusts will be additional localised hazards.”

The turbulent weather may come as a surprise for many people who are currently enjoying this week’s sunshine.

People across the nation from London to Manchester have been seen enjoying the warm weather by relaxing in green spaces while it lasts.

People make use of deckchairs at St James’s Park in central London (Jeff Moore/PA) (PA Wire)

Temperatures have been consistently above 20C this week, with 25C weather expected in the south on Thursday and temperatures peaking at 26C on Saturday.

However, the Met Office cautioned that with warm weather comes an increase in UV levels, which are set to reach “moderate to high across the UK” in the coming days, particularly in the south.

But alas, the poor conditions are set to return to a more “unsettled pattern” next week.

From Sunday, thunderstorms are likely and the rain is forecast to return. It is still due to be quite warm - around 20C - but this then lowers throughout the week.

By Thursday next week, the temperature is expected to have dropped to 17C.

“Rain and showers will start to move in from the west, due to a developing low from the Atlantic,” the Met Office added.

Deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wisson said: “Many places will start fine and warm on Sunday, though it is likely to become cloudier from the west or southwest during the day. This will be accompanied by scattered showers, which could be heavy with thunder.

“On Monday we’re likely to see more widespread and longer-lived spells of rain, some of which will be heavy and thundery. This will also lead to a much cooler feel to the day.”

Here is the UK’s five-day forecast in full:

Morning mist and fog patches will soon clear to leave a fine warm day, with plenty of sunshine across the country. Perhaps cloudier at times across the far northeast of Scotland, with any early rain quickly clearing from here.

Plenty of evening sunshine, then dry overnight with prolonged clear spells. With light winds, there will be some mist and fog patches forming in places.

A warm sunny day for many, though some patchy coastal mist is possible in places. A few heavy afternoon showers or thunderstorms developing across northern England and southern Scotland.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

A warm and humid day on Sunday, with an increasing risk of thunderstorms. Turning cooler through Monday and Tuesday, with showers and longer spells of rain. Winds increasing too.

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2024-05-10 12:18:40Z
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Keir Starmer unveils plan to use anti-terror powers to tackle small boats - BBC

By Becky Morton & Sam Francis

Political reporters, BBC News

Labour has announced plans to use counter-terrorism powers against gangs smuggling people across the Channel.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said her will establish a new Border Security Command with specialist officers to target people smugglers.

Sir Keir announced the plans in Dover alongside local MP Natalie Elphicke, who dramatically defected from the Conservatives to Labour on Wednesday.

The Conservatives called the plans a "re-brand" of government schemes.

Speaking ahead of Labour's policy launch in Dover, Ms Elphicke took a shot at her former boss, claiming "nowhere is Rishi Sunak's lack of delivery clearer than on the issue of small boats".

Her constituency is the arrival point for many people who make the dangerous journey across the English Channel.

"A fresh approach is needed - an approach that puts at its heart a commitment to border security," she said.

Under Labour's plans, counter-terror powers would also be extended to cover organised immigration crime, including the power to search people suspected of being involved in people smuggling, close bank accounts, restrict their travel and trace their movements before an offence has taken place.

The party's planned Border Security Command would be modelled on the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism set up by the last Labour government and would bring together the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement, the CPS and MI5.

The plans were praised by former counter-terror chief Neil Basu.

Writing in The Telegraph newspaper, Mr Basu said he was "heartened to see Sir Keir Starmer putting forward practical policy proposals to turbocharge the work of the multiple agencies working on this most challenging of issues".

"I am surprised it has not been considered before", he added.

Mr Basu also criticised Rwanda scheme which he says has "no evidence whatsoever" it will work despite being "a grossly expensive project costing over £500m".

Sir Keir has already pledged to cancel the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was passed into law last month.

The government the scheme will act as a deterrent to people smugglers and people attempting to cross the Channel illegally.

No deportation flights have taken off yet as the scheme has been delayed by legal challenges, but the government is now hoping for the first flights to be in July.

Sir Keir has branded it a "gimmick" and says it would spend £75m of the money earmarked for it in the first year to set up the new Border Security Command.

In his speech Sir Keir said Rwanda plan cannot be an effective deterrent as only a small proportion of people who arrive on small boats will be sent there.

Instead his plans would make Britain's shores "hostile territory for people-smuggling gangs", he said.

Both the Conservatives and Labour have accused each other of creating an "amnesty" - generally understood to mean allowing all those entering the country illegally to stay with a full legal pardon.

Labour's plans, which the Conservatives have dubbed an "amnesty for illegal immigrants", will allow those arriving in the UK on small boats to apply for asylum - which is currently banned under the Illegal Migration Act.

Labour have repeatedly denied they have plans for an amnesty on those entering the country illegally.

Sir Keir accused the Conservatives of "a Travelodge amnesty" by not processing asylum claims and housing people in hotels instead - though the plans do not amount an amnesty either as they involve deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.

More than 8,826 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, provisional Home Office figures show.

Nearly 9,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, provisional Home Office figures show. This is up almost a third (32%) on the same period last year, when 6,691 people made the crossing, and a 14% rise compared with the same period in 2022 when the number of people was 7,750.

The Border Security Command will hire hundreds more specialist investigators and cross-border police, Labour said.

It would be led by a former police, military or intelligence chief who would report directly to the home secretary.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, said the new unit will "pull together National Crime Agency, MI5, the Borderforce, police forces across the UK, but crucially work with Europol, with police forces across Europe".

"We know that some of these networks stretch through into Iraq, to Kurdistan, through to the money markets in Kabul - this is an entire criminal industry that has been established," she added.

Citing the case of a seven-year-old girl who died in attempting to cross the channel last month, Ms Cooper said People smuggling is "undermining border security and putting lives at risk".

Home Secretary James Cleverly accused the plans of failing to act as a "deterrent" to illegal migrants.

A source close to Mr Cleverly told the BBC: "Labour talk about sending people home, with returns agreements but can't name a single country they would do them with.

"Starmer's "new plan" is his old plan, which is no plan."

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2024-05-10 09:25:29Z
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UK has moved out of recession, official figures show - The Guardian

The UK is officially out of recession after figures showed the economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the period from January to the end of March marked a return to growth after a mild recession in the second half of 2023. It was the strongest rate of quarterly growth since the end of 2021, and a better performance than expected by economists, who forecast growth of 0.4% in the first quarter.

The downturn came to an end after an increase in activity across the services sector, which has flourished since the turn of the year as wages have outstripped inflation, easing the pressure on consumers.

However, forecasters expect the UK to grow slowly this year as high interest rates and last year’s inflation surge continue to take their toll on disposable incomes.

The Bank of England has predicted that a lack of momentum in the economy means gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by only 0.5% this year. The Bank kept interest rates unchanged at 5.25% on Thursday but indicated it may begin cutting them from June.

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said: “There is no doubt it has been a difficult few years, but today’s growth figures are proof that the economy is returning to full health for the first time since the pandemic.”

He said the UK had the best outlook among European G7 countries over the next six years, “with wages growing faster than inflation, energy prices falling and tax cuts worth £900 to the average worker hitting bank accounts”. Although, apart from Germany, other eurozone countries avoided a recession last year.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said last week that the UK would be the worst performing economy in the G7 next year, as high interest rates and the lingering effects of last year’s surge in inflation drag on growth.

Responding to the first-quarter GDP numbers, the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said it was a case of going “from no growth to low growth”.

She said: “This is no time for Conservative ministers to be doing a victory lap and telling the British people that they have never had it so good. The economy is still £300 smaller per person than when Rishi Sunak became prime minister.”

The ONS said consumer spending and business investment recovered in the first quarter after declines across the second half of 2023.

Liz McKeown, an ONS director of economic statistics, said: “After two quarters of contraction, the UK economy returned to positive growth in the first three months of this year.

“There was broad-based strength across the service industries, with retail, public transport and haulage, and health all performing well. Car manufacturers also had a good quarter. These were only a little offset by another weak quarter for construction.”

An increase in transport and storage services was the biggest driver of the 0.7% increase in the services sector. The boom in private healthcare and renewed activity in the NHS after a series of strikes last year were among the other factors pushing up services sector growth.

Construction activity fell in response to a decline in housebuilding, while the manufacturing sector benefited from a recovery in car production.

Textile factory output fell by 3.6% to register the sixth consecutive quarter fall.

Energy production increased between January and March. However, the ONS said growth in this sector and manufacturing was partly offset by a fall of 2.4% in the output of activities associated with the big water companies, including sewage and waste management.

Ruth Gregory, an economist at the consultancy Capital Economics, said the increase in GDP showed the economy had been recovering from last year’s contraction with more strength and momentum than was previously understood. But she doubted the increase in GDP would prevent the Bank of England from making its first interest rate cut in the summer.

“At this stage we doubt the recovery will be strong enough to prevent inflation from falling further and the Bank from cutting rates to 3% next year,” she said.

GDP per head is estimated to have increased by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2024, after seven consecutive quarters without positive growth. It is estimated, based on ONS projections of the UK’s rising population, that GDP per head is 0.7% lower compared with the same quarter a year ago.

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2024-05-10 07:40:00Z
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Natalie Elphicke defection 'like being punched in the gut', says Jess Philips - Sky News

Jess Phillips has revealed that seeing Natalie Elphicke cross the floor to join the Labour Party felt "a bit like being punched in the gut" given the former Conservative MP's "victim blaming" after her ex-husband and former MP Charlie Elphike was convicted of sexual assault.

The former shadow minister for domestic violence told our Electoral Dysfunction podcast that the leadership should have handled the defection of Ms Elphickle "in a way that was slightly more sensitive to those of us who speak up on these particular issues", as the MP for Birmingham Yardley hinted at the private anger and upset among Labour MPs over the shock arrival of Ms Elphicke, a Tory rightwinger who was a member of the Brexiteer ERG group and New Conservatives caucuses.

"I expressed my view quite clearly," says Jess, as the backlash built last night, culminating in Ms Elphicke putting out a statement on Thursday, which I understand was driven by Sir Keir Starmer's office, apologising to the victims of her ex-husband.

Ms Elphicke, who took the Dover & Deal seat uncontested after her now ex-husband Charlie Elphicke, was convicted of sexual assault, had defended him and said his conviction had been a "terrible miscarriage of justice" as she described Mr Elphicke as an "easy target".

On Thursday, she released a statement apologising about the comments she had made about victims.

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She said: "The period of 2017 - 2020 was an incredibly stressful and difficult one for me as I learned more about the person I thought I knew. I know it was far harder for the women who had to relive their experiences and give evidence against him.

"I have previously, and do, condemn his behaviour towards other women and towards me. It was right that he was prosecuted and I'm sorry for the comments that I made about his victims.

"It is vital that women can have confidence in the criminal justice system and our rates of prosecution and conviction are far too low as a country.

"Keir Starmer's mission to halve male violence against women and girls is critical and I wanted to take the opportunity to express my explicit support for Labour colleagues working to realise it."

I understand that she had privately expressed these views to Sir Keir Starmer when discussing joining Labour, and that the party had made these public amid the backlash the Labour leader was facing in light of her defection.

The Labour leader has made tackling violence against women and girls a key election pledge.

Jess says the apology was "an absolute start, but is also a bare minimum".

"I'm going to give her a chance to talk to me personally. There is a part of that statement about abuse and harm that he caused to her as well.

"I'm not saying that to excuse her. I am saying that because I think that she provides us with a lesson of how we could actually prevent this going forward and have some sort of cultural shift. So I don't excuse her and I will give her, like I would with any woman, I will give her a fair chance."

Ruth Davidson, meanwhile, says the defection, coupled with those terrible local elections, means the PM is "tripping into beleaguered territory".

"By the time this election comes in November or whenever it is. I mean, we could be beleaguered, we could be in the rear-view mirror by then. I mean, it could be falling apart by that point... I mean apocalyptic."

A dysfunctional week all around, one way or another.

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2024-05-10 04:55:56Z
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Kamis, 09 Mei 2024

Natalie Elphicke: Labour insists ex-Tory MP is 'good fit' for party - BBC.com

Labour has defended welcoming Tory defector Natalie Elphicke into the party after anger from some backbench MPs at the decision.

Labour chair Anneliese Dodds said the Dover MP was a "good, natural fit" for her party.

Some Labour MPs have expressed concern about Mrs Elphicke's political views and past criticism of Labour.

"People can change their minds," Ms Dodds said.

Mrs Elphicke defected to Labour in a surprise move on Wednesday, hitting out at the "broken promises of Rishi Sunak's tired and chaotic government".

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Dodds said: "What she set out [in her statement] is absolutely fundamental to the Labour Party."

She added: "Natalie Elphicke is not the first Conservative MP who's taken this decision... [she's] taken the same decision as so many other former Conservative supporters up and down the country.

"I think it's absolutely right she's done so because she's clearly here putting her constituents first."

Mrs Elphicke has said she will not be standing to remain as an MP at the general election and has not been offered a peerage by Labour as a reward for defecting. She will be given an unpaid role advising Labour on housing policy.

She has campaigned for rent freezes and against homelessness - areas where she has common ground with Labour.

But she has also previously accused Labour of being soft on human rights and migration.

Many Labour MPs are deeply uncomfortable with remarks she made about her ex-husband Charlie Elphicke, whom she replaced as Dover MP in 2019.

In an interview with the Sun after his conviction in 2020 for sexual assault, she was reported to have said being "attractive" and "attracted to women" had made him an "easy target".

She has not commented on those previous remarks since defecting on Wednesday.

Labour said: "all those issues have been dealt with previously both in Parliament and in public."

But Jess Phillips, the former shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, said Mrs Elphicke should "account for her actions".

The Labour MP told ITV's Peston: "I'm all for forgiveness but I do think that that needs some explaining."

Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he was "delighted" with her defection, telling reporters it showed Labour was "the party of the national interest".

In her defection statement, Mrs Elphicke said Labour had "changed out of all recognition" under Keir Starmer and now occupied the "centre ground" in British politics.

"For me key deciding factors have been housing and the safety and security of our borders," she added.

It is the second defection to Labour for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in less than two weeks, after Dr Dan Poulter also quit the Tories last month. Mr Poulter was viewed as more on the centre of the Conservative party, however.

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield said Labour MPs were "baffled" by Mrs Elphicke's defection, describing it as "really peculiar". She said she did not "believe for a second that [Mrs Elphicke] has suddenly transformed into a Labour MP".

John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, told LBC he was "surprised and shocked", adding: "I'm a great believer in the powers of conversion, but I think even this one would have strained the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist, quite honestly."

Labour backbencher Mick Whitley called the defection "outrageous," adding Mrs Elphicke did not share the "values of the Labour movement".

Foreign secretary - and former prime minister - Lord Cameron said the defection demonstrated that Labour stood for nothing.

He told an audience at the National Cyber Security Centre that when he first heard about it he thought "Oh no, not another one".

However, he went on to say that "by the end of the day it was like 'that says so much more about Keir Starmer and the Labour Party having a complete lack of a plan than it does about a prime minister who is a good man doing a great job at a difficult time'."

Other Conservatives expressed surprise with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan labelling Mrs Elphicke's move "bewildering" and showing "a real lack of principles".

"She's very much on the right wing of the party. I know all parties are a broad church, but she was an ERG member and big Liz Truss supporter, I believe," she told GB News.

Transport Minister Huw Merriman branding her "shameless" and an "opportunist", adding "I'm just disappointed for politics that she's done what she's done".

Mish Rahman, a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said that he did not welcome Mrs Elphicke's defection, saying the party is getting "grubbier".

He said the Labour Party should be in the business of changing the country, "not saving the careers of Tory politicians who the British public are rejecting because of the damage they've done to the country".

"She's not fit to be a Labour Party member, let alone an MP," he added.

Do you live in Natalie Elphicke's constituency in Dover? What is your reaction to her defection to the Labour Party? Tell us by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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2024-05-09 11:28:07Z
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Jumat, 10 Mei 2024

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Kamis, 09 Mei 2024