Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP, has defected to Labour, hitting out at the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government’’.

Crossing the floor in the Commons just before prime minister’s questions, the Dover MP said: “I have carefully considered this decision. The change has been dramatic and cannot be ignored. For me key deciding factors have been housing and the safety and security of our borders.”

Defections from the Tories are becoming more frequent and party whips fear a handful of other MPs are in talks. Twelve days ago Dan Poulter, a former Tory minister, switched to Labour. In March Lee Anderson, who was deputy Conservative chairman, left for Reform UK.

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