The shadow Housing Secretary, Sir James Cleverly, has distanced himself from a recent controversy involving the use of a "Gestapo" comparison by Conservative politician Kemi Badenoch. The remark targeted Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s decision to impose VAT on private schools, with Badenoch likening the policy’s enforcement to the tactics of Nazi Germany’s secret police.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Cleverly acknowledged the context of the statement but said he would not have chosen the same language. “I can’t remember the context specifically of the quote,” he said, adding that his concern centered on Phillipson’s approach rather than the terminology used. “The point is Bridget Phillipson has pursued an agenda which has nothing to do with raising money, nothing to do with recruiting teachers, it’s about punishing people who spend their own money to send their children to private school,” Cleverly stated.

When pressed on whether he would have made the comparison himself, Cleverly replied, “No, I probably wouldn’t have done.” He further explained that while he would not use that phraseology, he understood Badenoch’s reasoning behind the comment.

The dispute between the two politicians has intensified in recent days. Badenoch declined to apologize after branding Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior” during a parliamentary session last week. The exchange occurred during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday and reportedly escalated into a tense confrontation in the division lobby, with Phillipson accusing the Conservative leader of having “lost her head.”

The disagreement highlights ongoing tensions within UK political circles over education policy and tax measures aimed at private schools. Both parties remain steadfast in their positions, reflecting broader ideological divides on social and fiscal issues. The episode has drawn attention to the rhetoric used in political debate and the sensitivities surrounding historical analogies.