Connect with us

Published

on

The MP who defected from the Tories to Labour yesterday has apologised for comments she made supporting her ex-husband after he was convicted of sexual assault.

After former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was jailed for two years in 2020 for assaulting two women, Natalie Elphicke told the Sun the fact he was “attractive” and “attracted to women” had made him an “easy target for dirty politics and false allegations”.

She called the trial unfair and said the allegations were “complete nonsense” and called her ex-husband “charming, wealthy, charismatic and successful”.

Several Labour MPs said they were not comfortable having an MP in their party who has defended a sex offender.

Jess Phillips, former shadow domestic violence minister, said Mrs Elphicke should “account for her actions”.

Just over 24 hours after defecting, Mrs Elphicke released a statement apologising for her comments.

She said: “My decision to join the Labour Party is not one I have taken lightly but one I made because I am convinced that this country needs a new government led by Keir Starmer to fix the problems we see from housing to small boats.

More from Politics

“I always knew that this decision would put a spotlight on the prosecution of my ex-husband and I want to address some of the commentary around this head on.

“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.

Read more: Natalie Elphicke defends MP husband after conviction

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Defecting Tory MP crosses floor to Labour

“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.”

Mrs Elphicke ended her marriage to Mr Elphicke moments after he was convicted but supported his unsuccessful appeal, which is when she made the “attractive” comments.

She had supported him until he was convicted and was seen entering the court with him most days of his trial.

After he stepped down as an MP she stood in his Dover seat and won with a large majority.

She will not be standing again in the next election.

Continue Reading

Politics

Trump admin advisor meeting with Federal Reserve chairman ‘regularly’

Published

on

By

<div>Trump admin advisor meeting with Federal Reserve chairman 'regularly'</div>

Investors are patiently waiting for interest rate cuts to fuel risk-on-asset markets amid high inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Continue Reading

Politics

‘Whole cabinet’ recognises need to spend more on defence, minister says

Published

on

By

'Whole cabinet' recognises need to spend more on defence, minister says

The whole government recognises the need to spend more on defence, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a cabinet minister has said.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that he “disagrees” with claims the prime minister is preparing to overrule the chancellor on the amount of cash being spent on the armed forces.

“The whole cabinet, the whole government, I think most people in this country recognise the pressures the world is under, recognise more will have to be spent on defence,” he said.

He added that Ms Reeves “knows more than most… defence has to be the cornerstone of our national prosperity”.

Politics Live: UK ‘disagrees’ with JD Vance on free speech comments

More on Defence

The Sunday Times reported that Sir Keir Starmer held one-to-one meetings on Friday with the chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and the heads of the armed services, who are calling for spending to increase to a 2.65% share of the economy.

The newspaper cited a senior Treasury source saying Ms Reeves was not willing to hand over any more cash for defence this year. However, an ally of Sir Keir reportedly said he will make the final decision and is prepared to override his chancellor.

The UK’s target is 2.5%, but it is currently at around 2.3% – with no timetable for when spending might increase.

Mr Reynolds said Ms Reeves’s June spending review “will set out the roadmap towards that target”.

Asked if that could mean an increase in defence spending, he said: “We already had an increase… £3bn in the last budget… so our credentials are there. We’ll set out that roadmap in the spending review as you do for all spending.”

Read More:
UK and US ‘don’t have to agree on everything’ minister says over JD Vance’s swipe at free speech

Sir Keir is said to want to seize the initiative on defence spending following the news that US President Donald Trump has begun discussing a Ukraine peace deal with Russia.

Officials from Washington and Moscow will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days for peace talks, which Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he was not invited to.

Mr Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has also said European leaders will not have a place at the negotiating table in a discussion to end the war.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How can UK improve defence?

Rachel Ellehuus, the head of defence thinktank the Royal United Services Institute, told Sky News that with Washington shifting its focus away from Europe, all NATO members should increase defence spending and the alliance’s 2% target is not enough.

She said the issue should be treated with “urgency” and called on the UK government to “find the headroom to invest in conventional capabilities as well as innovation – to continue to invest in people, recruitment, personnel”.

It comes ahead of an emergency meeting of European leaders to discuss Ukraine, organised by French President Emmanuel Macron which Sir Keir is expected to attend in Paris on Monday.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, the prime minister spoke of a “once in a generation moment” for the UK, US and Europe to work together and warned against “divisions” within the alliance.

He also said it was clear “Europe must take on a greater role in NATO”.

Sir Keir will take messages from the meeting to Washington DC when he meets Mr Trump the following week, according to Downing Street sources.

Continue Reading

Politics

Texas Bitcoin reserve hearing ‘symbolic move’ for crypto — Analyst

Published

on

By

Texas Bitcoin reserve hearing ‘symbolic move’ for crypto — Analyst

While the hearing represents a positive step forward, the Fed’s monetary policy remains the main driver of Bitcoin’s trajectory, analysts told Cointelegraph.

Continue Reading

Trending