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Brits Must ‘Guard Against Normalisation Of Racism’, Bridget Phillipson Warns

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A cabinet minister has urged Britons to “guard against the normalisation of racism” coming from some right-wing politicians.

Bridget Phillipson accused prominent members of both Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party of questioning Brits’ identity “on the basis of their skin colour”.

The equalities minister’s remarks come after former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak warned in The Sunday Times there is a risk “we start equating skin colour with nationality”.

Sunak, the UK’s first non-white PM, said immigration debates are starting to focus on “trying to turn Britishness into a DNA test”.

“Once we say that this or that person isn’t really English or British because they are not white, then we are on a very slippery slope,” he said.

“Some people will argue that English is an ethnic identity and British a civic identity. Though if you think those nuances are heard by most people, I fear you are being rather — perhaps even wilfully — naive.”

Phillipson told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “We are a fantastically successful country in terms of integration, in terms of the real strength we draw from that.

“But I find it extremely disturbing that it has become normalised in frontline politicians, both in Reform and the Conservatives, to question people’s British identity on the basis of their skin colour.”

Both Reform and the Conservative Party have been approached for comment.

The Labour Party chair continued: “My family come here from Ireland, built a life here, work in our NHS, and made such a big contribution but no one questions my identity, and that’s because I’m white.

“I’m really worried about what we are seeing around the questioning of the integrity and the identity of people who have a different skin colour.

“I think that is profoundly un-British, it is not in keeping with our traditions and I’m really pleased to see people like Rishi Sunak standing up and making very clear that actually it’s a good thing he could be the prime minister for our country – and I do believe with that.”

“We have to really guard against the normalisation of racism that we are seeing in our country,” she added.

The debate comes after Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf was accused of “straight-up racism” by a minister earlier this month.

Yusuf had questioned Labour’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, a Labour council leader, because she was born in Somalia.

The Conservative’s first Muslim chair, peer Baroness Warsi, called the party “institutionally xenophobic and racist” back in 2024.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Minister Torches Billionaire Man Utd Owner Who Claimed Britain Is ‘On The Slide’

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Bridget Phillipson tore into Jim Ratcliffe after the British billionaire claimed the UK is “on the slide”.

Ratcliffe, who owns Manchester United football club and has lived in tax-free Monaco since 2020, claimed: “If you continue to tax everyone to death, they’re all going to leave. And that’s what’s happening.”

“I think the UK is on the slide,” he told the BBC, insisting “tough” politicians have to make decisions which are good for the country rather than their parties.

Ratcliffe, worth an estimated £17bn, alleged that high immigration and high taxes have forced Britain into a state of decline and that he would only return if things improved.

However, Labour Party chair Phillipson told BBC: “You’ll forgive if I do take with a pinch of salt what someone who is a tax exile has to say about our country.

“I am optimistic about our country’s prospects,” the minister said, while acknowledging there are large international headwinds in reference to the ongoing Iran war.

“But I fundamentally believe we are in a strong position going into this Budget because of decisions taken over the last two years,” she added.

The minister claimed “you lose the moral high ground” over such economic arguments if one “becomes a tax exile”.

Phillipson, who is also the equalities minister, tore into Ratcliffe’s history of supporting the UK’s exit from the EU.

“He was also someone, as I understand it, who was a big supporter of Brexit,” she said.

“That was over a decade ago now, but we’ve seen the impact of Brexit on our economy, and that’s why this government is committed to making sure we do have a better trading relationship with the European Union, which will be a central part of how we make sure we do see stronger growth.”

Her remarks come after Treasury minister Torsten Bell claimed on X Ratcliffe “hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it” and “laments the hit to manufacturing driven by a Brexit he supported”.

Chancellor John Healey is expected to hike taxes to close funding gaps in his Budget next month.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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James Cleverly Fails To Back Kemi Badenoch Over Nazi Row

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James Cleverly has refused to back Kemi Badenoch after she compared education secretary Bridget Phillipson to a Nazi.

The Tory leader said the cabinet minister “has acted like a Gestapo officer” by ending a tax break for private schools, which has led to some being forced to close due to falling pupil numbers.

She said: “I compared her to a Gestapo officer, acting like a Gestapo officer, with the way she was closing down those schools which didn’t appeal to her own ideology.”

Responding on X, Phillipson said: “The Gestapo marched hundreds of thousands of innocent people to their deaths. I’ve ended private schools’ tax breaks to invest in state schools.

“No responsible leader makes vile comparisons like this. Kemi Badenoch is not fit to be Prime Minister.”

On BBC One’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, shadow housing secretary Cleverly distanced himself from Badenoch’s choice of language.

Asked by presenter Victoria Derbyshire if he would have made that comparison, he said: “No I probably wouldn’t have done.”

Later in the interview, he said: “That wouldn’t have been the phraseology that I would use.”

Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Kemi’s top team won’t defend the indefensible because they know full well Kemi Badenoch’s comments were completely appalling and deeply inappropriate.

“Time and again Badenoch sinks below the standards the public rightly expect from a Leader of His Majesty’s opposition. The simple fact is she’s not up to the job.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Badenoch And Phillipson Clash In Extraordinary Commons Bust-Up

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Kemi Badenoch accused Bridget Phillipson of “destroying children’s lives” during an extraordinary bust-up after prime minister’s questions.

The pair clashed after several Labour MPs confronted the Tory leader in the Commons.

Badenoch had earlier been reprimanded by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after she called Phillipson, the education secretary, a “spiteful class warrior” for adding VAT to private school fees.

A Tory source said: “Labour MPs confronted Kemi, including Bridget Phillipson. Kemi replied: ‘I will never stop fighting you. You’re destroying children’s lives’.”

An ally of Phillipson told HuffPost UK: “Badenoch has once again disgraced herself.

“She and her putrid party can’t stand working class women who do well.

“If standing up for the 94% of kids in state schools makes Bridget a spiteful class warrior then she’ll wear it with pride.”

The Conservative leader stunned many within the Labour Party with her visceral attack on Keir Starmer and his most senior ministers in the Commons today.

Speaking during Starmer’s first PMQs since he announced his resignation on Monday, Badenoch even accused Labour MPs of sticking “400 knives” in the prime minister’s back.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ended up cutting in, telling the Commons: “Let us think about the language that we use.

“When we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents think they can use the same language against each other. Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect to each other.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Exclusive: Labour War Of Words As Phillipson And Powell Clash Over 2-Child Benefit Cap

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A fresh war of words has erupted in the Labour deputy leadership race over moves to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson took a swipe at her rival Lucy Powell as she urged Rachel Reeves to scrap the hated Tory policy.

HuffPost UK revealed last month that Keir Starmer has already decided to scrap the cap, with the chancellor preparing to announce it when she delivers her Budget on November 26.

Phillipson said that she, rather than Powell, had been leading moves inside government to tackle child poverty.

On Sky News, Phillipson repeatedly stressed that she could put pressure on the chancellor to scrap the benefit cap from inside government – a clear reference to the fact that Powell is no longer in the cabinet after being sacked as Commons leader last month.

She said: “There’s an urgency to this. With every year that passes more children are moving to poverty because of the two-child limit.

“It was a Tory policy. We would not have introduced it. I’m clear what needs to happen. I’ll be in Cabinet arguing for that, and that’s why I’ve made tackling child poverty my number one priority during this campaign.”

Presenter Trevor Phillips asked her: “Do you seriously believe Lucy Powell wouldn’t do all she could to end child poverty?”

Phillipson replied: “I’ve got a track record on actually taking action to lift children out of poverty. It’s been a longstanding cause of mine.”

In another jibe at Powell, Phillipson said: “I want to build on the record of people like Angela Rayner and John Prescott, who were in government, running big government departments, but as the members’ voice at the cabinet table. I think that would give me extra clout.”

But an ally of Powell told HuffPost UK: “Lucy has made the running on this. Scrapping the two child benefit cap wouldn’t have been discussed in the contest if Lucy hadn’t put it squarely at the centre of her campaign.

“It’s well documented that she spoke up about the welfare changes because of the impact on child poverty.”

The clash is further evidence of how the battle to be Labour’s deputy leader has grown increasingly bitter.

In a post on X last week accusing Powell of splitting the party, Phillipson said: “Back me to end child poverty or take us back to our divided past”.

Meanwhile, a Labour source told the New Statesman: “Lucy was sacked from Cabinet because she couldn’t be trusted not to brief or leak. She findamentally lost the trust of colleagues.”

Powell has insisted she will be the Labour members’ voice at the top of the party if she becomes deputy leader.

Ballots close in the contest on October 23, with the winner being announced two days later.

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Labour Deputy Leadership Hopeful Warns Starmer Party ‘Can’t Out-Reform Reform’

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Keir Starmer has been warned to stop trying to “out-Reform Reform” by an MP running to be his deputy.

Left-winger Bell Ribeiro-Addy hit out at the prime minister after throwing her hat into the ring to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader.

She has been joined in the race by education secretary Bridget Phillipson, who becomes the first minister to run.

HuffPost UK also understands Lucy Powell – sacked by Starmer in last week’s reshuffle – will announce today that she is standing after encouragement from allies.

Labour MPs have until 5pm on Thursday to get the 80 nominations they need to get on the ballot paper.

On Radio 4′s Today programme this morning, Ribeiro-Addy said the Labour leadership had got it wrong on the situation in Gaza, the winter fuel allowance and welfare cuts.

Instead, she accused No.10 off becoming more right-wing in an attempt to win back Reform voters.

Ribeiro-Addy said: “We are currently haemorrhaging votes to the Lib Dems, to the Greens, and ultimately all we seem to want to do at the moment is chase down Reform, and we cannot do that. We are not good at out-Reforming Reform, but we can do so much better at being Labour.

“If we keep going down in this direction we are not going to be able to attract or even to retain voters, and I think most people would agree that the most important thing is to make sure that Labour members have confidence in their deputy leader.”

Phillipson, the MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said she was running “to unite our great party and deliver for working people”.

She said: “I’ve taken on powerful vested interests in the education sector – and even as they threw everything at me, I have never taken a backwards step. I will bring that same determination to every battle ahead of us.

“Because make no mistake: we are in a fight. We all know the dangers Reform poses our country. But not only am I ready for it: I’ve proven we can do it. I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the north-east, while staying true to the Labour party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.

“With me as deputy leader we will beat them right across the country and unite to deliver the opportunity that working people across this great country deserve.”

Dame Emily Thornberry is also trying to drum up support, but Rosena Allin-Khan has decided not to stand.

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Half A Million More Pupils To Receive Free School Meals In Eligibility Shake-Up

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Over half a million more pupils will qualify for free school meals from September as part of the government’s bid to reduce child poverty.

Under the new rules, all children from households claiming Universal Credit will become eligible for free lunches, saving their parents around £500 a year.

The move will lift 100,000 children out of poverty, according to the Department for Education.

At the moment, only children whose household income is less than £7,400 receive free school meals.

Nearly 2.1 million pupils – almost one in four of all pupils in England were eligible for free meals in January 2024.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.

“My government is taking action to ease those pressures. Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.

“This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our plan for change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed.”

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “It is the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty, and today this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.

“We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us to deliver excellence everywhere, for every child and give more young people the chance to get on in life.”

The move was welcomed by William Roberts, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, who said it would “make a huge difference to thousands of children and parents across the country”.

He said: “As well as putting more money in the pockets of vulnerable families, wider provision of free school meals has been shown to lower the risk of childhood obesity, reduce absenteeism and boost educational attainment.”

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Bridget Phillipson Brutally Slaps Down Lee Anderson In Angry Commons Clash

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Bridget Phillipson brutally slapped down Lee Anderson as the pair clashed angrily in the House of Commons.

The Reform UK MP infuriated the education secretary during a debate on last week’s Supreme Court ruling that sex is defined by biology.

Anderson asked Phillipson: “I don’t need a Supreme Court judgment or ruling to tell me that a bloke shouldn’t be in a women’s changing rooms.

“I want to ask the secretary of state a very simple question for more clarity: can a woman have a penis?”

The minister replied: “I’ll tell you what, blokes shouldn’t beat up women. Maybe he should have a word with his colleague.”

That was a reference to another Reform UK MP, James McMurdock, who was jailed 19 years ago for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend, according to court documents.

He spent 21 days in a young offenders’ institution after admitting the attack.

The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, who was elected last July, told Sky News last year: “Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed and apologetic.

“Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault. I was charged for what I did, not for what has been claimed, and I faced the consequences then and paid for my action in full.”

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Lee Anderson(Reform MP): Can a woman have a penis?

Bridget Phillipson: \"I’ll tell you what, blokes shouldn’t beat up women, maybe he should have a word with his colleague.\" pic.twitter.com/Xs2W6rWRE8

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 22, 2025

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Lee Anderson(Reform MP): Can a woman have a penis?

Bridget Phillipson: “I’ll tell you what, blokes shouldn’t beat up women, maybe he should have a word with his colleague.” pic.twitter.com/Xs2W6rWRE8

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 22, 2025

Phillipson had also raised the incident during an earlier exchange with Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice.

He said: “Now we have got confirmation from the Supreme Court what the definition of a woman is, could the secretary of state confirm that all public sector and private sector bodies will apply that definition with immediate effect?”

Phillipson replied: “The Equality and Human Rights Commission will set out a statutory code of practice that will provide further clarity.

“But I would just say to [Mr Tice] that I will take no lectures from his party about the importance of defending women’s rights, given that one of his own number, that sits on those benches, was convicted and went to prison for assaulting his former partner.”

Nigel Farage last year described Mr McMurdock as “good example to young tearaways” who “picked himself up from a terrible situation and made a big success”.

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