Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall confront Kemi Badenoch after ‘spiteful’ PMQs assault
Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall confronted Kemi Badenoch after the Tory leader branded the Education Secretary a ‘spiteful class warrior’ in a PMQs attack
Liz Kendall (left) and Bridget Phillipson watched from the frontbench as Kemi Badenoch launched her attacks(Image: Parliament TV)
Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall confronted Kemi Badenoch after the Tory leader branded the Education Secretary a “spiteful class warrior” in a PMQs attack.
Ms Badenoch is facing a backlash after a series of vicious jibes about Ms Phillipson, who grew up on a council estate in Washington in the North East.
Ms Phillipson – who was with DWP Secretary Ms Kendall – happened to pass the Tory leader in the voting division as they departed PMQs, where Ms Kendall called out Ms Badenoch’s behaviour.
In response, Ms Badenoch is said to have told Ms Phillipson: “I’m never going to stop talking about how spiteful you are.” The fuming Education Secretary – who was allegedly forced to shout her reply as Ms Badenoch walked off – said: “The public are going to find out who you really are.”
During PMQs, Ms Badenoch was told off by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who warned members about showing “respect” to one another. A spokesman for Ms Badenoch later said she would “absolutely not” apologise for the language she used during the session.
During the session, Ms Badenoch pointed to a poll by the National Education Union that this week showed no teachers thought Ms Phillipson were doing “very well” in her job. The Tory leader continued: “She taxed private schools to pay for more teachers, but the number of teachers has gone down.
“It turns out appointing a spiteful class warrior as Education Secretary was a disaster.”
Keir Starmer defended Ms Phillipson, saying he is “so proud that she is sitting there and so should everybody in this country who cares about social mobility”.
The PM continued: “She knows that for poor children, education is absolutely vital and that is why it drives every single priority and value that she has. I would have thought the party opposite would recognise and understand some of that, but they’ve fallen so low, they don’t.”
Deputy PM David Lammy later added: “Kemi Badenoch ’s attack on Bridget Phillipson at PMQs today lays bare something deeper about the direction of their politics. I’m proud that this Labour government has the most state-schooled Cabinet in the post-war era – people who didn’t grow up with privilege, but earned their place through hard work. That’s the difference between us and them.”
Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Kemi Badenoch showed her true character at PMQs today. Classless, vicious & vindictive towards the brilliant Bridget Phillipson. What is it about this clever, decent brilliant women bringing opportunity to children of all backgrounds that Kemi hates so much? Envy is a terrible thing.”
Trade minister Chris Bryant said: “Badenoch just did spite today. Magnanimity is nearly always a better strategy at moments such as these.”
Labour MP Uma Kumaran said: “Just last week we wore white roses to remember our dear Jo [Cox], killed whilst undertaking duties as an MP. My constituency is where Sir David Amess went to school, also killed undertaking his duties as MP. Both their families robbed of their loved ones.
“Their killers were radicalised and filled with hatred towards elected officials. The dehumanisation of people who put themselves forward to serve in elected office is accelerating at an alarming pace. Kemi should be ashamed for acting as chief cheerleader.”
Sir Lindsay intervened in PMQs after Ms Badenoch asked Mr Starmer if he felt he’d been “betrayed” by his MPs and described Labour ministers as “traitors and deserters”. On Labour backbenchers, Ms Badenoch said they were “cheering so loudly while there are 400 knives stuck in” the Prime Minister’s back. “They don’t like it up ’em,” she added, borrowing the phrase from TV sitcom Dad’s Army. It is understood this was the phrase which Sir Lindsay objected to.
The Commons Speaker said: “Can I just say think about the language use… because when we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language against each other. Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect to each other.”
