A heated exchange unfolded in the House of Commons on Thursday between Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Labour’s education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), escalating into a confrontation behind the scenes. The dispute centered on accusations over language and policy decisions related to education funding and taxation.
The exchange began with Ms. Badenoch criticizing Ms. Phillipson’s handling of education, accusing her of imposing VAT on private schools under the guise of funding more teachers, despite a decline in teacher numbers. Ms. Badenoch labeled Ms. Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior,” while also accusing Labour of incompetence, referencing Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor. During this, Ms. Phillipson was observed shaking her head in response.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, defending his cabinet, highlighted Ms. Phillipson’s background, noting her upbringing in poverty and describing her career as an “incredible story of social mobility and success.” His intervention came in the context of the outgoing prime minister’s first public appearance since announcing his resignation earlier this week.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle called for “a little bit more decorum and respect” following Ms. Badenoch’s remarks. According to a spokesperson, the phrase that drew Sir Lindsay’s objection was “They don’t like it up ’em,” a reference to the British sitcom Dad’s Army. The spokesperson added that Ms. Badenoch believed she had been courteous to Sir Keir during PMQs and expressed sympathy for him.
The disagreement intensified after the session when Ms. Phillipson alleged that Ms. Badenoch had previously compared her to a Gestapo officer, a claim that reportedly drew criticism from Labour’s technology secretary, Liz Kendall. The trio met in the division lobby, where Ms. Kendall reportedly described Ms. Badenoch’s comments as “outrageous.” Meanwhile, sources indicated Ms. Badenoch responded to the accusations with statements such as, “I’ll fight you all the way, you’re destroying children’s lives,” referencing the VAT policy on private education fees, and accused Ms. Phillipson of being “spiteful,” vowing to continue making the point.
Ms. Phillipson also suggested to Ms. Badenoch that “the public are going to find out who you really are.” Following the confrontation, the education secretary took to social media, asserting that Ms. Badenoch “lost her head” both during and after PMQs and reiterated the previous comparison to a Gestapo officer related to the VAT decision. On the platform X, Ms. Phillipson framed the dispute within a broader political context, emphasizing her efforts to invest in state schools and challenging the Tory opposition to ending private schools’ tax breaks.
A spokesperson for Ms. Badenoch stated that she would not apologize for her remarks during PMQs, standing by her language and approach throughout the exchanges. The broader conflict reflects ongoing tensions within parliament over education policy, class politics, and party leadership as the government faces a transition period.