Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds defended the defection despite Ms Elphicke's long record of attacking Labour policies, her insults against footballer and free school meals campaigner Marcus Rashford, and her defence of her ex-husband and predecessor as Dover MP when he was convicted of sexual assault.
Ms Abbott, meanwhile, remains suspended from the Labour whip after more than a year of investigation over an antisemitism row. One senior Labour MP told the Standard: "This is outrageous. Labour MPs are incredulous about what has happened.
This story is from the May 09, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the May 09, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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