Natalie elphicke, the mp for dover, said the conservatives under rishi sunak have become a byword for incompetence and division. She made the movejust minutes before the Prime Minister faced mps in the commons at Prime Ministers questions for the First Time Since suffering heavy defeats in local elections in england. Heres our Political Editor chris mason. Natalie elphicke, shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister when rishi sunak invited reporters to dover last summer to talk about stopping the boats. Less than a year later, she has stopped being a Conservative Mp. Look at the leader shes appearing with now. I must when admit, i got up this morning i didnt expect to hear this today. Natalie elphicke, the labour member of parliament for dover and deal. I think she speaks for many tory voters in saying the tory party has changed, it has left the centre ground. But equally, the labour party has changed and we are very clearly the party of the national interest, of the country first, party second. Really good day. It has been a great day. Cue the mildly awkward first date for the cameras in tow vibes ahead of her criticism of her Prime Minister. He is not stopping the boats and he is letting the country down. Meanwhile, under labour, they are clear that it is important to have defence, and they want to make sure they have Good National security. So i think we should have confidence that labour are the party that will tackle this issue of the small boats crossings. And this is what crossing the floor, as its known, looks like. Natalie elphicke being led to the labour benches. She takes a seat behind keir starmer and gets another handshake from the new boss. Little wonder the Labour Leader appeared to be enjoying himself. Hes also lost 1,500 tory councillors, half of his partys mayors, and a leadership election to a lettuce. How many more times do the public and his own mps need to reject him before he takes the hint . This time last year, i reminded him of some advice, actually, from his own mentor tony blair, who had said at the time, he can be as cocky as he likes about local elections, but come a General Election, its policy that counts, mr speaker. I am really in a rush. To get to this meeting, im afraid. You cant spare a sentence . That meeting was Rishi Sunak Talking to his mps about those terrible local Election Results last week. Good afternoon, any words for Natalie Elphicke . Its a shame, with natalie being further to the right than me, i would be surprised if she finds a home with the labour party. If you look at the things she has said on the past, her criticisms of labour on the policy on the boats, it seems incompatible with her position now. Its up to her. Any words to offer her . I only go through dover for the ferry. Natalie elphicke became an mp in 2019, replacing her then husband Charlie Elphicke after he was charged with sexually assaulting two women. He was later convicted and jailed, at which point she announced that their marriage was ending. Tonight, labour will hope the focus is on The Big Picture two defections from the conservatives in less than a fortnight. Natalie elphicke today, after this man, dan poulter, a week last sunday. Lets speak to adam fleming, who joins us from the Newscast Podcast studio. Adam, good to see you. Timing is everything, isnt it . Everything, isnt it . Yes, that thin of everything, isnt it . Yes, that thing of unveiling everything, isnt it . Yes, that thing of unveiling a everything, isnt it . Yes, that thing of unveiling a big everything, isnt it . Yes, that l thing of unveiling a big moment everything, isnt it . Yes, that thing of unveiling a Big Momentjust seconds before Prime Ministers questions at midday on a wednesday In Westminster thats a classic political trick, thats been done before, but it works every time because mps love a bit of drama, politicaljournalists love a bit of drama too, and that can make something thats moderately dramatic seem extremely dramatic. And that stiffly what happened in this case. This follows less than two weeks from the last time it Conservative Mp defected from the conservatives to labour, then you think an geopolitical time, the last time this happened was in 2022 when the Prime Minister then, borisjohnson, Prime Minister then, boris johnson, was Prime Minister then, borisjohnson, was very unpopular and Christian Wakeford made the same journey to the House Of Commons as well. But you have to go back 27 years to the last time the governing party saw a defection to the main opposition. So we are getting used to happening in the last few weeks, but it certainly hasnt been happening a lot the last few decades, which just adds to the drama of whats been happening at westminister. A, drama of whats been happening at westminister. Westminister. A bit of interesting history and westminister. A bit of interesting history and context westminister. A bit of interesting history and context they westminister. A bit of interesting history and context they are, westminister. A bit of interesting i history and context they are, adam. Tell me more about the reaction among labour and conservative backbenchers. Im sure the whatsapp groups have been firing up. You backbenchers. Im sure the whatsapp groups have been firing up. Groups have been firing up. You can see in chris groups have been firing up. You can see in chris masons groups have been firing up. You can see in chris masons piece groups have been firing up. You can see in chris masons piece there see in chris masons piece there that the Conservative Mps the remaining Conservative Mps decided to not ignore it, they couldve minimised itand not to not ignore it, they couldve minimised it and not given Natalie Elphicke any oxygen, theyve taken the opposite approach by basically trying to humiliate her and play this down and discredit her, and also to try and so a little bit of discomfort amongst the labour party by pointing out that on lots of issues, Natalie Elphicke, for want of a better word, is quite far right of a better word, is quite far right of the political spectrum still to the right of the middle, but not necessarily a natural ally of lots of people on the labour party side of people on the labour party side of the political spectrum. And that has had a knock on reaction amongst labour mps none of them going public to say they are concerned about this, but lots of my colleagues at westminister say theyve been speaking to people in theyve been speaking to people in the corridors who are not totally over the moon about Natalie Elphickes politics. And lord kennett, the former Labour Leader in the 80s and 90s, has just pre recorded and interview on radio for where he says, labour is a broad church but churches have walls, in other words, you dont just let anyone in. But the thing is, Natalie Elphicke will not stand as a Labour Candidate in the next election, so she will not be in the front line, the middle line, the back line of british politics for very long. And also, i suspect that for members of the public, your average voter tuning into this, they are not aware of the interesting route Natalie Elphicke took to becoming an mp in the first place or what she said about small boats or labour policy on welfare in the last few months. They willjust labour policy on welfare in the last few months. They will just see somebody going from conservative to labour, which is what keir starmer wants lots of voters to do when we finally eventually have a General Election here. Finally eventually have a General Election here. , ~ ,. ,. Election here. Thank you very much, adam. Election here. Thank you very much, adam you election here. Thank you very much, adam you can election here. Thank you very much, adam. You can listen election here. Thank you very much, adam. You can listen to election here. Thank you very much, adam. You can listen to the election here. Thank you very much, | adam. You can listen to the Newscast Podcast seven days a week on bbc sounds, and you can scan the qr code on the screen now or go online. We turn to the situation in gaza as the us Defence Secretary, loyd austin, has confirmed that a shipment of us weapons to israel has been paused over concerns about an Israeli Offensive on rafah city. The shipment included 2,0001b bombs, which could be devastating if used in such a densely populated place. Heres lloyd austin making that announcement. Israel shouldnt launch a major attack in rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battle space. And again, as we have assessed the situation, weve paused one shipment of high payload munitions. And again, weve also been very clear about the steps wed like to see israel take to account for and take care of those civilians before major combat takes place. We certainly would like to see it no major combat take place in rafah. Rafah is a city in Southern Gaza where more than one million palestinians are sheltering, most of them women and children thats more than half of gazas population. They were told to evacuate there by the Israeli Military who said it was a safe zone but israel has stepped up air strikes to rout out hamas, which is thought to have four battalions still in rafah. This is the aftermath of an overnight strike, palestinian medical staff say Seven Members of a family were killed. Theres been mounting International Concern over the fate of palestinians there, and the us has been urging israel not to attack. Lets hear from our correspondent yolande knell. For now, the israeli army is stressing that this is not the full Ground Offensive in rafah that western powers, the un have been warning against for months because of the risk of high numbers of civilian casualties. Still, a hamas official has said this is a dangerous escalation. Meanwhile, israel says the Kerem Shalom Crossing has now been reopened, after a promise to us President Biden that it would do so. Israel had shut the crossing, which is close to rafah, four days ago because of nearby rocket fire from hamas. They also took control of the gazan side of the rafah crossing. The un had expressed alarm on tuesday over what it called israels choking off of gazas two main aid arteries. Israels military says lorries from egypt with food, water, and medicine have arrived at the crossing although a Un Agency Says any aid has yet to go through. Lets speak to peter millett, uk ambassador to libya between 2015 and 2018. Thank you very much for your time today, joining us on bbc news. First of all, on that pausing and a very clear signalfrom the us Defence Secretary that this was related to whats happening in rafah, do you think this will shift Prime Minister netanyahus thinking at all . It hasnt so far, because The Americans have been warning about any incursion into rafah for quite a number of weeks. So this is an important signal, and especially these huge bombs which could cause so much damage and just increase the killing of innocent civilians i think it is an important signal, but i dont think mr netanyahu is listening. Hes pulled in the opposite direction by the right wing extremists within his government, who basically to flatten gaza and wipe out the Palestinian People. So listening to International Concern and the importance i think the important part of lloyd austins message was the importance of respecting International Law. And that means that attacks should be proportionate, they should distinguish between civilians and combatants, and they should be military necessary. So up to now, i would say that the killing of 35,000 palestinians the Vestment Majority of them innocent women and children is not compliant and consistent with International Law. And thats the message lloyd austin ascending, is the importance of respecting International Law. International law. Republican senator Marco International law. Republican senator marco rubio International Law. Republican senator marco rubio was International Law. Republican i senator marco rubio was saying International Law. Republican senator marco rubio was saying today that when america doesnt help an ally publicly, then it encourages their enemies i wonder what your thoughts are on that on and where this leaves the relationship at the moment . Both have relied on each other but have very different guidelines on how to proceed and rafah. ,. ,. , guidelines on how to proceed and rafah. ,. ,. ,. , rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with each rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with each other, rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with each other, and rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with each other, and i rafah. Friends need to be open and honest with each other, and i hope| honest with each other, and i hope that even though these public messages are now emerging, i hope that the private messages that, for example, Secretary Of State blinken has been passing to the israelis, are honest and open, and pushing them in the right direction. I dont think The Americans could or should give the Israeli Defence forces a blank check in terms of their activities over there fighting in gaza. �. Activities over there fighting in gaza. ,. , gaza. And what should the uk be doing then . Gaza. And what should the uk be doing then . We gaza. And what should the uk be doing then . We are gaza. And what should the uk be doing then . We are seeing gaza. And what should the uk be | doing then . We are seeing the us pause on this particular shipment, what should the uk be doing . I dont think we provide what should the uk be doing . I dont think we provide the what should the uk be doing . I dont think we provide the same what should the uk be doing . I dont think we provide the same degree, i think we provide the same degree, quantity or nature of military equipment. But i think strong signals about the importance of respect for International LawDavid Cameron said a couple days ago that hamas should accept the very generous offer which was on the table. Hamas did accept that cease fire and truce agreement, get the israelis have ignored it. So i think conveying strong behind the scenes messages in conjunction with The Americans and now other european allies is an important way to get across to the israelis that the sort of activities weve seen in the past should not be repeated in rafah, and that in the end, there needs to be a cease fire, the hostages need to be released, and we have to get back to a process of thinking about how to provide long term security for both the Palestinian People and the israeli people. Palestinian people and the israeli eole. ~ , Palestinian People and the israeli eole. , ~ ,. Still to come on The World Today. Bbc analysis suggests the worlds oceans have broken temperature records every day over the past year because of Climate Change. And which acts are through to the semifinals of eurovision . Will be live in sweden for the latest. Around the world and across the uk, this is The World Today on bbc news. Prince harry has delivered a reading at st. Pauls cathedral for the Invictus Games. The duke of sussex flew into london for a three day visit but, while in the uk, isnt expected to meet with any of his royal family members, expected to meet with any of his royalfamily members, including the king, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Heres panzeri speaking at the service at st. Pauls. To each is at the service at st. Pauls. Trr each is given a manifestation. To one is given through the spirits the utterance of wisdom. One is given through the spirits the utterance of wisdom. Lets. Know meetin utterance of wisdom. Lets. Know meeting with utterance of wisdom. Lets. Know meeting with members utterance of wisdom. Lets. Know meet