Who is MP Natalie Elphicke?
TORY MP Natalie Elphicke has been blasted by MPs following comments she made about England footballer Marcus Rashford.
The 50-year-old, who has since been forced to apologise, is the MP for Dover. Here’s all you need to know.
Who is Tory MP Natalie Elphicke?
Mrs Elphicke was born in Hertfordshire and studied at the University of Kent - gaining a law degree.
She worked as a lawyer for the Inland Revenue from 1995 to 1997, before becoming a financial partner at Stephen Harwood where she stayed till 2013.
The MP specialises in housing and has played a key role in developing Conservative Party policy for the past decade.
Since 2011 she helped launch the Conservative Policy Forum and has also been a director of the Student Loans Company.
In 2019, Natalie was elected as the MP for Dover, succeeding her husband, who was forced to stand down.from the role.
A year later she was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary and has also earned recognition as a freeman of London.
What did Natalie Elphicke say about Marcus Rashford?
The Conservative MP accused Marcus Rashford of spending more time "playing politics" than "perfecting his game," after he missed a crucial spot kick in the heart-breaking Euro 2020 defeat to Italy.
Making the comments in a Tory WhatsApp group moments after the game she said: "They lost - would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics."
She was later forced to apologise for the message after she was blasted by fellow MPs for “cruelly" sticking the boot into the England ace.
She said: "I applaud the England team who gave their all in Euro 2020.
";Last night I shared the frustration and heartbreak of millions of other England fans.
"I regret messaging privately a rash reaction about Marcus Rashford's missed penalty and apologise to him for any suggestion that he is not fully focused on his football."
Who is her husband Charlie Elphicke?
The Dover MP is married to disgraced former Tory MP and solicitor Charlie Elphicke.
In July 2020, Charlie was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women and sentenced to two years in prison.
After his conviction she announced she was divorcing him after 25 years due to his betrayal.
But, she later came out in his defence, saying he didn't get a "fair trial".
She said: "The court seems to be on a bit of a mission, it entirely ignored the report of a highly experienced probation officer as well as sentencing guidelines.
"There is no doubt that Charlie behaved badly.
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"However, everyone, Charlie included, has the right to a fair trial, and I don't believe that he has had one."
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In March 2021 he lost an appeal over his two year jail term.
The couple share two children together.