Lord Kinnock led one Work backlash last night after right Tory Natalie Elphicke defected to the party.
The Dover MP stunned Westminster yesterday by announcing she would switch to Labor in protest at the government's 'broken promises'.
The defection was intended to cause damage Rishi Sunak and was unveiled as he arrived in the Commons chamber for Prime Minister's Questions.
But last night it threatened to backfire as senior Labor figures accused Sir Keir Starmer of turning his party into 'a dustbin for far-right Tory politicians'.
Former Labor leader Lord Kinnock (pictured) warned Sir Keir he had to be 'choosy' in deciding whether to accept defectors known to hold hard right views
Natalie Elphicke stunned Westminster yesterday by announcing she was switching to Labor in protest at the government's 'broken promises'. Keir Starmer pictured with Natalie Elphicke
It is reported that at least one female Labor MP has made a formal complaint to party leaders about the decision
Ms Elphicke was condemned by former colleagues on the Tory benches, with rail minister Huw Merriman branding her a “shameless opportunist”.
However, Sir Keir also faced a backlash over his decision to embrace an MP who had branded him 'Sir Softie' over his stance on immigration and who defended her former MP husband when he was convicted of sexual assault.
Former Labor leader Lord Kinnock warned Sir Keir that he had to be “choosy” in deciding whether to accept defectors known to hold hard right views.
He told the BBC: 'In terms of the party in general, I think we have to be picky to some extent about who we allow to join our party because it is a very broad church, but churches have walls and there are boundaries.'
In a lengthy statement, Ms Elphicke said Labor had undergone “dramatic” changes. In the photo, stunned MPs turn to each other as Ms Elphicke defects to Labour
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell (pictured) branded the move a 'political stunt' and warned it could backfire (pictured)
It is reported that at least one female Labor MP has made a formal complaint to party leaders about the decision.
Labor MPs privately expressed their fears over Sir Keir's decision to welcome Ms Elphicke. One said: 'There is a lot of concern about whether we have done our due diligence on this.'
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded the move a “political stunt” and warned it could backfire as Elphicke has views on issues such as immigration “that I don't think the party should be associated with”.
He told LBC Radio: 'I am a great believer in the power of conversion, but I think even this would have strained the generosity of the spirit of John the Baptist.'
Mish Rahman, a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said: 'Because of Starmer's decision today he wants Labor to become a dustbin for far-right Tory politicians who have caused colossal damage to our country. I'd rather beat any Tory… instead Starmer wants them in his parliamentary party.'
It marks the second Tory defection to Labor in a fortnight, following former minister Dan Poulter's move last week.
Ms Elphicke also clashed with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves over England footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign to secure government funding for free school meals
In a lengthy statement, Ms Elphicke said Labor had undergone a “dramatic” change and was now the party of the middle, while the Conservatives had “become a byword for incompetence and division”.
She also accused the government of failing to stop the boats. “It is clear that they have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted.” Ms Elphicke has said she has no intention of standing for re-election in Dover, but a Labor spokesman said she could be given an unpaid role in advising the party on housing.
However, Labor has faced a barrage of tough questions about Ms Elphicke's views.
Last year she said in an article that Labor had 'no plan of its own to tackle illegal immigration' and mocked Sir Keir as 'Sir Softie'.
She also clashed with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves over England footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign to secure government funding for free school meals.
When the Tory MP suggested the footballer should have spent more time 'perfecting his game' than 'playing politics' after missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final, Ms Reeves said she should 'hurry up '.
Ms Elphicke also raised eyebrows with her defense of ex-husband Charlie, who preceded her as a Dover MP. After he was jailed for two years for sex crimes, she said he was punished for being “charming, rich.” [and] attractive'.