Bridget Phillipson: "Spiteful class warrior" and proud
7/10/202643 min
Recently, the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, has seemed particularly exercised by one woman on Labour's front bench. Yes, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary and one of Keir Starmer's closest allies, has become something of an obsession for the Leader of the Opposition. Interviews come and interviews go, yet somehow Badenoch always seems to find a way to bring Phillipson into the conversation.
Much of the hostility stems from Phillipson's determination to impose VAT on private school fees, a policy she has defended without apology. For that, Badenoch has branded her a "spiteful class warrior."
So we thought this might be the perfect moment to get Bridget Phillipson into The News Agents studio. Is she really the "spiteful class warrior" her critics claim? And if she is, does she wear the label with pride?
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLewis Goodall· Host0:00
Just a quick word before we start to say that we recorded this episode before the tragic news of Ann Widdecombe's murder broke. We will, of course, be returning to that story in the days to come. But first, here is that interview with Bridget Phillipson. [upbeat jingle] This is a global production. Kemi Badenoch, she seems to be bringing you up a lot Appointing a spiteful class warrior as Education Secretary was a disaster.
Bridget Phillipson· Guest0:27
I seem to be living rent-free in her head, and I don't really know why. I honestly could not care less what Kemi Badenoch thinks about me.
Lewis Goodall· Host0:34
This must be a very weird couple of weeks as a serving cabinet minister in the Starmer government.
Bridget Phillipson· Guest0:38
Big mistakes were made. People said, "Look, we voted Labour, and we didn't vote for this." There's a disconnect, I think, in terms of Keir's public persona and who he is as an individual, and I don't quite know why that is. We've got a big fight on our hands, and a lot rests on defeating the likes of Farage and Reform and his poisonous politics. Why should we indulge in some attention-seeking, desperate stunt that Nigel Farage wants? Why would we indulge that?
Lewis Goodall· Host0:59
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory Party leader, isn't exactly known for being a cuddly, friendly figure. But even for her, she's seemed especially exercised of late by one woman on the Labour front bench Hands up if you think the Education Secretary is doing a good job.
Kemi Badenoch· Soundbite1:15
[audience laughing] Even she doesn't think she's doing a good job, Mr. Speaker. Even she doesn't think she's doing a good job. Bridget Phillipson represents everything that is wrong with the Labour Party. She is incompetent, but yet she is very happy to dish it, but can't