Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister

[smn159]

Quite something that even the ERG loons can no longer tolerate the incompetence and division that they kicked off in the first place.

[bitchstewie]

And still they're utterly consumed by immigration.

https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1788228652649386461

[Blue62]

bhstewie said:

I've been listening to LBC on the drive home and there's a mix of opinions on Elphicke.

Plenty mirror mine which is what the hell is Starmer thinking but quite a few also being pragmatic that it's a "hold your nose" one as it sends a message.

I can understand that point of view but I'm not sure it's swayed my own view from what on earth is he thinking.

I imagine Starmer couldn't resist the opportunity, one week he has an MP and doctor defecting over the NHS, the next he has an MP defecting over border controls, small boats and housing, all key battlegrounds for the election. Sunak must be wondering who will cross the chamber next, surely he's had enough by now, just call a GE and move on.

[S600BSB]

bhstewie said:

I've been listening to LBC on the drive home and there's a mix of opinions on Elphicke.

Plenty mirror mine which is what the hell is Starmer thinking but quite a few also being pragmatic that it's a "hold your nose" one as it sends a message.

I can understand that point of view but I'm not sure it's swayed my own view from what on earth is he thinking.

I do think it is a case of hold your nose Stewie. We are at the fag end of this awful government and defections undermine its authority and possibly bring forward the GE. All that matters now is lifting the drains and flushing them away asap.

[smn159]

Blue62 said:

Sunak must be wondering who will cross the chamber next,

Wouldn't surprise me if it was Sunak himself

[captain_cynic]

smn159 said:

Blue62 said:

Sunak must be wondering who will cross the chamber next,

Wouldn't surprise me if it was Sunak himself

I wonder what would happen if a sitting PM crossed the floor?

I guess he'd have to resign and the members would just vote in a new one. Would still be utter fking chaos but with the current government who would notice the difference?

[MikeHo]

abzmike said:

Another right winger jumps ship, right winger Natalie.Elphicke, oddly to Labour... Funny old world.

So ....... what gives an MP the right to change parties while they are serving?

Nobody votes for the individual, they vote for the policies of the party, don't they ?????

[James6112]

anonymoususer said:

This is another good day for Rishi
All the hidden trots and communist inclined types are leaving the Conservatives.

This is proving to be a good old sifting out of those not fit to wear the blue rosette

I thought you was serious at first.
Nearly fell for it!

[bitchstewie]

MikeHo said:

So ....... what gives an MP the right to change parties while they are serving?

Nobody votes for the individual, they vote for the policies of the party, don't they ?????

I assume that technically and legally you vote for the person not the party.

[xeny]

bhstewie said:

And still they're utterly consumed by immigration.

https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1788228652649386461

That at least is talking about legal migration, compared to which the much unstopped boats are a drop in the bucket.

[biggbn]

Those criticising Starmer for taking this MP surely see that it's all PR. She was quite a right wing voice and she is not only criticising the government, she is willing to join his version of Labour, indicating to Joe and Gemima Public who are wringing their hands about Labour that it is a broadchurch, all are welcome, come on in, the waters lovely...and some of it is blue. He'd have been bonkers to refuse her.

[MikeHo]

bhstewie said:

MikeHo said:

So ....... what gives an MP the right to change parties while they are serving?

Nobody votes for the individual, they vote for the policies of the party, don't they ?????

I assume that technically and legally you vote for the person not the party.

Perhaps we shouldn't ?

Like I always tell MrsHo .... you vote for X because you don't like Y (as an individual) then you are voting for everything that comes with their party.

[bitchstewie]

Sure but turn it on its head.

What if you vote for the party and the party goes utterly bonkers and all its values change?

Should you be "stuck" with that party representing you?

Damned if I know the answer.

[Killboy]

bhstewie said:

And still they're utterly consumed by immigration.

https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1788228652649386461

Just let them carry on. It's perfect

[Mr Penguin]

I don't think he should have taken her. Parties are naturally coalitions and some are in their parties for non-ideological reasons but there are limits to how broad a church they can go. It also seems to have ruffled a lot of feathers in the Labour benches and will cause problems for Starmer after the election. He can get away with it for now because he is leading in the polls and we are a few months from the election.

[S600BSB]

It’s been quite a few days!

[bitchstewie]

Can you even imagine being a Labour MP the next few days and being asked "So do you think Natalie Elphicke shares your values and do you share hers?".

This seems a poor piece of judgement.

[Mr Penguin]

bhstewie said:

Can you even imagine being a Labour MP the next few days and being asked "So do you think Natalie Elphicke shares your values and do you share hers?".

This seems a poor piece of judgement.

A spokesman said they would take Nigel Farage. There is a nice follow up question.

[119]

Well that has certainly put a cat amongst the pigeons.

So, Sunak was useless on reducing immigration so she jumps ship to Labour.

Ah well, no doubt she will fit in with all the other racists in the Labour party.

[EddieSteadyGo]

bhstewie said:

Can you even imagine being a Labour MP the next few days and being asked "So do you think Natalie Elphicke shares your values and do you share hers?".

This seems a poor piece of judgement.

Most people won't have a clue who Natalie Elphicke is, what she has said, or what her values are. All they will hear is a Conservative MP crossing to join Labour. It's a political gift for Labour - it boosts SKS's credibility and it damages Sunak. She is even standing down, so they don't need to worry about that aspect. Although I strongly wonder what she was promised in return ...no doubt we will see after the election where she pops up again.....

As to your question, any Labour MPs asked this question can hit a home run. They can reiterate Labour's "values", then can say Elphicke presumably must have realised how 'wrong' she was, it must have been a damascene moment, better late than never, 'we're reaching across the aisle', 'we're the party of the centre now' etc etc. And if the person asking the questions pushes further, they just say they really should put those questions to Elphicke directly.