The MP whose shock defection to Labour has sparked a backlash against Keir Starmer has been forced to apologise for comments about her ex-husband’s victims.
Charlie Elphicke was convicted of sexually assaulting two women and sentenced to two years in prison in 2020.
Natalie Elphicke supported his unsuccessful appeal, saying he had been an “attractive” man and “an easy target for dirty politics and false allegations”.
Amid growing anger over Labour’s decision to admit her, one female Labour MP told The Independent there was a “collective rage” against Sir Keir over Ms Elphicke.
In a statement, Ms Elphicke said she always knew her decision to cross the floor would “put a spotlight on the prosecution of my ex-husband and I want to address some of the commentary around this head on”.
She described the period between 2017 and 2020 as “an incredibly stressful and difficult one for me as I learned more about the person I thought I knew.” She added: “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.”
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