A city councillor hoping to become Worcester’s next MP says she “doesn’t understand” how Labour can welcome Natalie Elphicke.

The MP for Dover dramatically defected from the Conservatives on Wednesday (May 8), crossing the floor of the House of Commons before Prime Minister’s Questions.

She attacked the government for being “tired and chaotic” and said Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour were the only party that could stop the Channel crossings affecting her constituency.

Worcester News has attempted to contact Worcester's Conservative Party and Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidates but did not receive a response before going to press.

Worcester News: CANDIDATE: Mel Allcott says she doesn't understand how Natalie Elphicke can be welcomed into the Labour partyCANDIDATE: Mel Allcott says she doesn't understand how Natalie Elphicke can be welcomed into the Labour party (Image: Mel Allcott)

Mel Allcott, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Worcester, said she was astonished by the move.

“I do not understand how Keir Starmer can welcome a right wing MP who voted for Liz Truss,” said Cllr Allcott, who also raised the issue of comments about sexual assault made by Ms Elphicke four years ago.

Ms Elphicke replaced her husband Charlie Elphicke as Dover’s MP in 2019.

In 2020, Mr Elphicke was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women and jailed for two years.

Ms Elphicke, in an interview with The Sun, said her husband had been an “easy target for false allegations” because he was “attractive”.

Cllr Allcott, a campaigner on women’s rights, said: “Women need women who stand up for women. That’s not Natalie Elphicke.

“My thoughts are with the victims of Natalie Elphicke’s sex offender ex-husband.”

Ms Elphicke has today apologised for her comments in 2020, the BBC has reported: “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.

“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.”

Labour has said Ms Elphicke will not be the party’s candidate for Dover at the next general election - it is keeping its current candidate Mike Tapp.