Sunak rocked as Tory MP Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour - PMQs live

Sir Keir Starmer has been pictured with Natalie Elphicke after the Tory MP defected to Labour in a major blow to Rishi Sunak ahead of PMQs.

The Labour leader was pictured with his newest recruit in front of a bookcase at an office in Westminster.

The pair were seen in front of a Union Jack flag after shortly after Ms Elphicke defected, hitting out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government”.

Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker has jokingly hit out at Natalie Elphicke’s defection from the Tories.

Taking to social media, he said: “I have been searching in vain for a Conservative MP who thinks themself to the right of Natalie Elphicke.

“One just quipped: ‘I didn’t realise there was any room to her right.”

No 10 has hit back at Natalie Elphicke after her defection from the Conservatives to Labour, Kate Devlin reports.

The prime minister’s press secretary said the Dover MP had to explain why she believes Labour hasnanplan given she has spent the last two years attacking their lack of a plan on small boats.

The MP for Dover hit out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government” in a statement issued moments before Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. She then crossed the floor in the Commons to sit on the Labour benches for the first time.

But who is she and why is she defecting?

The Foreign Secretary has unveiled new measures against Russia after five people were charged under the provisions of the National Security Act.

He said that the incident was part of “a pattern of suspected Russian activity across Europe”.

Cleverly said: “Since the invasions the actions and threats from Russia have only increase. These activities are designed by Russia to bring the war [in Ukraine] home across Europe.”

Women terminating pregnancies because they cannot afford to feed children, MP claims

Women are terminating pregnancies because of the cost of living crisis in the North East, an MP has warned. Emma Lewell-Buck, Labour MP for South Shields, told Rishi Sunak how mothers in her constituency have terminated wanted pregnancies “because they could not afford another mouth to feed”. Addressing Mr Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (8 May), she said: “Recent figures also show infant and child death rates have increased in the most deprived areas and 50 children have died alone in unregulated accomodation. Is this his plan for a brighter Britain in action?” The prime minister said he would make sure Ms Lewell-Buck is aware of all the help available for people in her constituency.

Natalie Elphicke will not stand down as a Tory MP until the general election.

Labour has said it plans to stand its current candidate Mike Tapp, the FT’s Jim Pickard reports.

Elphicke defected to Labour just before PMQs.

Conservative MP Sir Philip Davies (Shipley) has accused the BBC and Channel 4 of “masquerading” as impartial.

He told the Commons: “Is the prime minister as appalled as I am at reports of militant civil servant, trade union, political activists, seeking to find ways not to implement the Rwanda deportations?

“Does he agree with me that if they are not prepared to implement the will of the government – an act of parliament that was passed by both Houses of Parliament – that they should conclude that perhaps being in the civil service is perhaps not for them?

“And maybe they can look for alternative employment at other left-wing organisations that masquerade as being impartial? Maybe they could try the BBC or Channel 4 news?”

Sunak replied: “My expectation is that civil servants will continue to be committed to supporting our priority of stopping the boats, and deliver in accordance with the civil service code.”

He added: “We are the only party that has a plan to stop the boats and we will face down all the obstacles in our way to deliver on this crucial priority for the British people.”

SNP leader in Westminster Stephen Flynn has called on the government to halt arms exports to Israel.

He said in PMQs: “As we await the imminent Israeli incursion into Rafah, where 1.2 million people are sheltering, including 600,000 children, it has been reported that the United States has paused an arms shipment to Israel. The UK will now follow suit, won’t it?

Sunak responded: “The UK government doesn’t, itself, directly provide or ship arms to Israel.

“When it comes to the situation in Rafah, I’ve been very clear that we are deeply concerned about a full military incursion in Rafah, given the devastating humanitarian impact. I’ve made that position and point specifically to prime minister Netanyahu whenever we’ve spoken and will continue to urge all sides to focus on the negotiations at hand to bring about a pause in the conflict to release hostages and get more aid in.”

Mr Flynn said: “We all know that UK arms and tech is supporting Israel’s activities in Gaza and will be used in any attack on Rafah. Knowing that, and the devastation that is going to occur, surely the time has come to end our complicity and end our arms sales to Israel?”

Mr Sunak responded: “We periodically review advice on Israel’s commitment to international humanitarian law and ministers always act in accordance with that advice. Our position with regard to export licences following the most recent assessment is unchanged.