Talk:Natalie Elphicke

Her views
Her political position is described as 'right wing', but there is no indication of any particular views, let alone any that pertain to her crossing the floor. Can we expand this aspect please? Onanoff (talk) 16:11, 8 May 2024 (UTC)


 * The ostensible reason for here defection was that Sunak was not doing enough to stop the boats: ""From small boats to biosecurity, Rishi Sunak’s government is failing to keep our borders safe and secure," she said. "Lives are being lost in the English Channel while small boat arrivals are once again at record levels. It is clear they have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted."" (Note the quick change from "we have failed to keep our borders secure and cannot be trusted.") Martinevans123 (talk) 16:26, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Marital status
As regards our subject's marital status, an article in The Times of 8 May 2024 states 'It is not clear whether she is still married to him' (i.e. Mr Elphicke), which I presume means that the writer is unsure whether she ever went through with the divorce that she'd announced. Whether or not The Times is a reliable source is a question that I'm happy to leave to wiser heads than mine! Niggle1892 (talk) 18:34, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Really? But the article says this: "In July 2020, she sold the story of her divorce to The Sun tabloid newspaper for £25,000. That local news story, however, doesn't actually mention the D-word. I wonder if the original Sun story did. Martinevans123 (talk) 18:39, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * The Sun story said that she had filed for divorce a few days before their article was published. Niggle1892 (talk) 18:54, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks, although the Sun is not WP:RS. So we can assume it completed (in the past 4 years)? Martinevans123 (talk) 18:59, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I suppose we could ask her, but then that would be Original Research! Niggle1892 (talk) 23:06, 8 May 2024 (UTC)


 * This tweet seems to indicate the divorce - "It ends my 25 year marriage to the only man I have ever loved.", although it is far from legal proof. Blume (talk) 18:42, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Can one get divorced just via a Tweet these days? Good old Elon. Don't even need to go Mexico. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:12, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

The Independent here says: "The couple divorced in 2021." and The Times here says: "The couple have since divorced." Martinevans123 (talk) 10:51, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

Standing down
This BBC source says: "Labour will retain their existing candidate in Dover and Deal at the next general election and Mrs Elphicke will stand down." But this probably means only that she will stand down in Dover. It's possible she will stand elsewhere? (not sure why BBC calls it "Dover and Deal"). Martinevans123 (talk) 19:56, 8 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Apparently the constituency used to be called Dover and Deal, and the old name was brought back in the recent boundary review.Niggle1892 (talk) 23:05, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

I'm a bit of a pedant on the language used for MPs not standing in a next General Election. The phrase "standing down" is just journalese and has no meaning in parliament. MPs just choose to not seek re-election. I don't find that BBC reference reliable enough, because it's a bit second hand. I want Natalie Elphicke herself to be the source of her intentions about the next election. As far as I know, she hasn't said anything publically yet. Seaweed (talk) 19:14, 13 May 2024 (UTC)


 * I guess the BBC's "standing down" (at Dove and Deal) is simply an inference from the Labour Party announcement that their existing candidate will stand again. Martinevans123 (talk) 20:26, 13 May 2024 (UTC)