![\"Natalie](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/11466\/production\/_133285707_gettyimages-1239288996.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMP Natalie Elphicke – who defected from the Tories to Labour – has apologised for comments she made supporting her ex-husband after he was convicted of sexual assault. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Charlie Elphicke was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women in 2020. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some Labour MPs had raised concerns about her saying he was “an easy target” for false allegations because he was “attractive”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Dover MP joined the Labour Party on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a statement on Thursday she said she knew her defection would “put a spotlight on the prosecution of my ex-husband”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The period of 2017 – 2020 was an incredibly stressful and difficult one for me as I learned more about the person I thought I knew. I know it was far harder for the women who had to relive their experiences and give evidence against him,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “I have previously, and do, condemn his behaviour towards other women and towards me. It was right that he was prosecuted and I’m sorry for the comments that I made about his victims.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Elphicke, who was her predecessor as MP for Dover, was jailed for two years in 2020 for sexual assault. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mrs Elphicke ended their marriage after his conviction but supported his unsuccessful appeal. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In September 2020, she told the Sun newspaper he was “an easy target for dirty politics and false allegations” because he was “attractive, and attracted to, women”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Her previous comments had prompted criticism from some Labour MPs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Jess Phillips, the former shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, said Mrs Elphicke should “account for her actions”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She told ITV’s Peston: “I’m all for forgiveness but I do think that that needs some explaining.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mrs Elphicke has said she will stand down as an MP at the next election, with Labour keeping their current candidate for the Dover and Deal constituency. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Announcing her shock defection on Wednesday, she hit out at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying under his leadership the Conservatives “have become a byword for incompetence and division”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She said the government’s record on housing and border security were the key factors behind her decision, accusing Mr Sunak of broken promises and abandoning key pledges. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n