PM’s show nearly over
Natalie Elphicke is not the first Tory to defect to Keir Starmer’s Labour and many believe she is unlikely to be the last. But she is surely the most unexpected MP to have crossed the floor.
Until her surprise conversion, Ms Elphicke had been a standard bearer for the Conservative right. Many in Labour are uneasy about welcoming someone who has previously spouted some very unpleasant views.
But if Mr Starmer wants to win the next election he will need to attract voters from all parties in all parts of the country, including ex-Tories who see the error of their ways. When the likes of Ms Elphicke decide Britain will be better served with Mr Starmer in No10, it shows how much Labour has changed.
But it also demonstrates that even lifelong Tories now grasp that Rishi Sunak and his downtrodden and incompetent government are a drag anchor on this nation’s fortunes. The Prime Minister should realise the show is over and it’s time to leave the stage.
Tech law plea
The parents of 11 children killed due to online harm made an impassioned plea for speedier action against the tech firms. Their call should be heeded.
Regulator Ofcom’s guidance to protect children from viewing distressing and harmful content will not be in force until the second half of 2025. This raises concerns that more lives could be lost before then.
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Families fear the proposed regulations do not go far enough to stop online grooming, sexual abuse and the incitement of self-harm, or suicide among young people. The process should be speeded up if possible. But these rules would be unnecessary if online firms stopped profiting from people’s misery.
Slights go out
Insults such as lummox, numpty, bampot and plonker are falling out of use among young people. On the up side, use them on under-28s and many will have no idea what they mean.