One of the most senior politicians involved in the property industry is embroiled in a row over her anti-Marcus Rashford social media comment.
Natalie Elphicke MP was earlier this year named as the surprise chair of the New Homes Quality Board. The post is described as being independent, but the MP was named by her own government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The New Homes Quality Board is currently overseeing the introduction of a code of practice for the new build sector, ahead of the creation of a New Homes Ombudsman Service.
Elphicke is also a director of the privately funded Housing and Finance Institute, and is a parliamentary private secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
On Sunday evening it is now known that she used WhatsApp to tell a reported 200 other Conservative MPs in her group: “They lost - would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics?”
The Daily Mail says the Elphicke has now made “a grovelling climbdown” after realising that a recipient of her comment had been leaked.
In a statement to the media, Elphicke now says: “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.”
Amongst those criticising her original comment is TV presenter Gabby Logan, who has presented the All About Property series of BBC Five Live and has participated in EA Masters events.
Logan herself took to Twitter to reply to Elphicke, saying: “Would it be ungenerous to suggest if the government did more to condemn racism and looked deeper into the reasons why we need to feed our poor with food banks in spite of being the sixth richest nation in the world then we might not need footballers with a conscience to intervene?”
Natalie Elphicke has been a Member of Parliament only since 2019 and is no stranger to controversy. She became MP for Dover to replace her now ex-husband Charlie, who has been jailed for three sex attacks on two women.
Meanwhile Rashford was made an MBE in October last year in recognition of his work in campaigning for under-privileged children.
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I wonder how many of the 200 other Conservative MPs in her group were appalled by her message . Well at least one leaked it !
He expects the govt = me a taxpayer to pay for everyone else’s children.
I work to look after my own family not everyone else’s.
When I was a kid I was taught by my parents that it was my responsibility to look after myself and my family and that if I cannot afford something I cannot have it.
Kids a are a choice. I and my wife would love to have a lot of kids but we understood how much they cost and wanted to give the kids we have the best opportunities we can. That is why we just had 2 kids.
All the money that would be needed to pay for everyone else kids would come from taxpayers.
The average salary in the uk is less than 25k.
If the govt pays for food for everyone’s kids this will only com e from more taxes.
So this guy on his300k a week wants people earning a low wage and struggling to get my to pay more tax for his little crusade.
If he cares so much about these kids why does he not set the example and take his first weeks salary in the year and donate the rest to the pay for free food for other peoples kids.
He will of course never do that.
I would have respect for him if he gave the message that kids are a parents responsibility and that people need to think if they can afford to look after them before they have a kid.
This is just the age on entitlement.
So many people seem to think that the govt – taxpayer has to make their life perfect.
If you want kids – work – pay for them.
No he doesn't. Quite the opposite. He expects, as Gabby Logan superbly points out, the government of the sixth richest nation in the world to look after and feed its children adequately. That's not too much to ask, is it?
If we go with your version of things, with no safety net or government support, we return to Victorian times - a dog-eat-dog world where everyone must fend for themselves and if you're poor, you're feckless.
You have absolutely no idea what he does with his salary - I'm absolutely sure he gives a lot of it back. He remembers where he came from, like many of the England players.
Plus it's not Marcus Rashford's responsibility to feed kids, just like it's not his responsibility to make laws or protect us from diseases and viruses - that's the job of the government.
There is a personal responsibility angle, but it's not entitlement to expect a good job with a decent wage and a roof over your heard. The welfare system isn't perfect, and is open to abuse, but it's far, far better than the alternative. Just look at the places around the world which don't have it. Remove it at your peril.
I really hope that you never fall ill, or have financial problems where you get into debt are overdrawn and literally can not put food on the table for your family .
It is not the children’s fault if their family have financial problems…
Think bigger picture!!
Not little England.
We are a rich country and no one should go hungry .
The MP in question is not sorry, she's just sorry her rather pathetic little dig at a fine young man was leaked.
Tory MPs have been waiting for any excuse to lay into Rashford because of how silly he made them look without ever openly entering party politics. Rashford, along with Tryone Mings and others, have become very impressive spokespeople on key issues. Sadly, they have been doing the opposition's job for them too much of the time.
The govt has no money it is taxpayers money paid for by people whom work and in the uk have an average salary of less than 25 k per annum.
Anyone who has kids they cannot afford to pay for clearly is feckless and irresponsible
I do not expect anyone to pay for my own lifestyle choices
.
You have absolutely no idea what he does with his salary –
It is not MY or any other taxpayer responsibility to pay for other people’s choices.
It is total entitlement to expect something for free.
If you want something pay for it.
I don’t expect to have things I cannot pay for
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