Dover MP: Natalie Elphicke defection splits opinion in Kent town

But another Conservative councillor said he could understand why she had defected.

Whitfield councillor James Back said: “I can understand her reasoning. There’s no point in staying where you don’t believe in what’s going on.”

Kevin Mills, the Labour leader of Dover District Council, said: “She believes this country has been let down by the government and has been quite clear that the only government she can see taking us forward – providing fairness, opportunity, housing – is a Labour government under Keir Starmer.”

Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for the neighbouring Canterbury constituency, said she was “baffled” by the move.

“Natalie and I work together on a lot of local issues but I don’t believe for a second that she has suddenly transformed into a Labour MP,” said Ms Duffield, who had been Labour’s only MP in Kent.

“My stance on immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, for example, has always been completely different to Natalie’s.

“So, I’m not sure what that means now about Labour’s view on those things. Is it mine? Or is it hers?”