A bizarre, cynical coup that raises yet more questions over Sir Keir Starmer's judgment

AS an obscure Tory MP, Natalie Elphicke was never destined for greatness.

- Leo McKinstry

But she has certainly made an ugly mark on British politics with one of the most bizarre and cynical defections in recent Westminster history.

Having only been in the Commons since 2019, she was widely seen as an uncompromising Right-winger, reflected not only in her tough stances on immigration and Brexit, but also the ferocity of her criticisms of Labour.

The anti-EU Conservative organisation, the ERG, of which she was a member, seemed her natural home.

"I did not realise there was any room to her Right," said one Conservative MP.

But yesterday she caused astonishment across the political landscape with her announcement that she had defected to Sir Keir Starmer's party.

It was as if Nicola Sturgeon had signed up for the English Defence League or Jean-Claude Juncker had joined the Temperance movement.

Because Westminster is such a defectors always place, tribal attract hostility.