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This is the moment Tory MP Natalie Elphicke walks across the Commons floor to join the Labour party, just minutes before Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday 8 May.The Dover MP crossed the floor in the Commons as she hit out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic Government”.She said: “I have carefully considered this decision. The change has been dramatic and cannot be ignored.”At PMQs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked Mr Sunak “what is the point of this failed Government staggering on” when “the Tory MP for Dover on the front line of small boats crisis says the Prime Minister cannot be trusted with our borders and joins Labour?” More

Rishi Sunak warned Sir Keir Starmer he can be “as cocky as he likes” after the local election results, but when it comes to a general election “it is policy that counts”.Mr Sunak reminded the Labour leader of Tony Blair’s famous words during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 8 May, after Sir Keir began the clash by welcoming Natalie Elphicke and Chris Webb to the Labour benches.Ms Elphicke has defected to Labour, hitting out at the “broken promises” of the government, while Mr Webb is the new Blackpool South MP after winning last week’s by-election.Despite a mauling from the electorate last week, Mr Sunak remained defiant during his clash with Sir Keir. More

Robert Jenrick has admitted he would not oppose Nigel Farage coming back to the Conservative Party.The former immigration minister said on Wednesday (8 May) that Rishi Sunak needs to win back Tory voters who have gone “on strike” because of the failure to curb immigration and tackle extremism.Asked by Nick Ferrari if that would require Farage “with a blue rosette”, Mr Jenrick said that his return is not a “priority”.“I would not oppose Nigel Farage coming back into the party,” he told LBC.“He’s associated with a different political party today – what we should be doing is tackling issues that the public care about.” More

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride was put on the spot about NHS waiting lists as he was grilled on changes to benefits in the UK.The Tory minister was grilled on the government’s WorkWell scheme, which includes a review of payments to people with mental health conditions, when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (7 May).Presenter Susana grilled Mr Stride after a woman was forced to pay for her own hip replacement as she could not wait 18 months for surgery and could not work because of the pain.Mr Stride replied: “I can’t comment on the specific example.” More

A Tory MP has suggested Labour will win the general election.Paul Scully, who is standing down at the next vote, shared a bleak outlook for Rishi Sunak’s government. “There is a scenario we can get to, if we come up with a vision and sell that vision to the country, rather than just going from crisis to crisis… that you can get to a hung parliament or reduce the losses,” he told BBC Politics on Tuesday 7 May.”My personal view, is that Labour is going to win the election.” More

Labour will fight the next election on the economy, the shadow chancellor has said as she dismissed suggestions the UK was heading for a hung parliament.In a speech in the City of London on Tuesday 7 April, Rachel Reeves said her party would use every day to “expose what the Conservatives have done to our country” and accused the government of “gaslighting” the public by claiming Britain had “turned a corner”.She said: “Instead of believing the prime minister’s claims that we’ve turned a corner, the questions people will ask ahead of the next election are simple.“Frankly, does anything in our country work better than it did when the Conservatives came into office 14 years ago?” More

The winning Tory candidate in the Tees Valley mayor election claimed he “forgot” his blue rosette as he celebrated victory on Friday 3 May.Ben Houchen has denied “trying to pretend” he was not Conservative during his mayoral election campaign, despite saying he could “absolutely” work with Sir Keir Starmer if the Labour leader becomes prime minister.“People know round here I’m a Conservative,” he told Sky News when asked about apparent efforts to distance himself from the Tory Party brand and instead run on a highly personal platform.Lord Houchen was the only candidate on stage not to wear a party rosette at the Tees Valley count, saying he “forgot” it. More

Labour’s David Skaith celebrated as he won the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election on Rishi Sunak’s doorstep.The area contains the prime minister’s own constituency of Richmond and was previously considered a Conservative stronghold.It came as another blow to Mr Sunak as the Tories were set to be hit with a humiliating defeat in this year’s local elections.Mr Skaithe was elected as the region’s first leader with 35.1 per cent of the vote, compared with the Tory candidate’s 27.3 per cent. More