Labour chairwoman Annelise Dodds said there is no place for Nigel Farage in the party, following criticism from some MPs that right-wing former Tory MP Natalie Elphicke was allowed to defect.

Asked if Mr Farage would be welcome if he wanted to join Labour, Ms Dodds said: "Nigel Farage is someone who is well outside any kind of Labour values.

“He has proven that time and time and time again.”

She said the former Brexit leader and Ms Elphicke are not comparable, as Mr Farage is “someone whose values are completely inimical to the Labour Party”.

“I think in what Natalie Elphicke has set out today she’s very clearly shown she is very concerned about the issues that both Labour MPs are concerned about and Labour members, and indeed many Labour voters,” Ms Dodds said.

“She’s very concerned about the impact of that lack of delivery of housing on people up and down our country.”