That was one reason for springing the surprise two minutes before Prime Minister’s Questions – it meant Labour MPs had no time to react before it was used for maximum advantage to humiliate Rishi Sunak.
But the reaction has been fiercer than Starmer expected. The Labour leader seems to have underestimated the dismay among female Labour MPs, in particular, who are appalled by Elphicke’s defence of her former husband, convicted of sexual assault in 2020.
Many Labour members are outraged at Starmer’s hypocrisy in welcoming a right-wing Tory while keeping out Diane Abbott, the trailblazing campaigner for equal rights. “Keir Starmer would sell his grandmother,” said one.
There have been plenty of Labour voices publicly expressing their doubts. Jess Phillips, the former shadow minister for domestic violence, said Elphicke should “account for her actions”. She said: “I’m all for forgiveness, but I do think that that needs some explaining.”
This story is from the May 10, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the May 10, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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