Labour chair Bridget Phillipson has accused Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch of politicizing violence against women and girls, claiming they are exploiting the issue for political gain rather than addressing it seriously. Speaking ahead of the Labour Women’s Conference in Liverpool, Phillipson described the safety of women as a “national emergency” that both the Conservative Party and the Reform UK party are failing to properly confront.
Phillipson, who serves as the cabinet minister for women and equalities and was appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to lead Labour’s campaign efforts, criticized the right-wing parties for focusing on violence against women only in the context of immigration and asylum debates. She argued this approach amounts to “weaponising” women’s safety for political point-scoring without implementing effective measures to protect women.
“There is a serious issue of violence against women and girls that requires urgent action,” Phillipson said. “My priority is ensuring that women can live free from fear of intimidation or abuse. Unfortunately, the Tories and Reform UK appear more interested in using this issue to stoke division than to create real change.”
The remarks followed local controversy in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, where a vote was held supporting independence in protest of plans to house more than 1,000 male migrants at a nearby former military base. Some women in the village expressed concerns about their safety to Phillipson. While Badenoch visited the area, Phillipson remained dismissive of the Conservative minister’s involvement as well as Farage’s claims on the matter.
In addition to addressing women’s safety, Phillipson touched on broader political issues during her interview, highlighting her intention to prioritize tackling class inequality following comments by Badenoch, whom she described as a “spiteful class warrior.” She also expressed alarm about the rise of “ethno-nationalism” linked to Reform UK and the Conservatives, warning that it fuels racism in the United Kingdom.
Phillipson further voiced frustration over what she termed “unwarranted attacks” from right-wing groups targeting established institutions like the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which she said were being criticised despite fulfilling their duties.
On Labour’s leadership, Phillipson praised the recent transition from Sir Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham as injecting “real energy, real purpose, and real hope” into the party’s direction. The Labour Women’s Conference opening in Liverpool marks a key moment for the party as it seeks to refocus its agenda on issues affecting women and disadvantaged communities.