Senior minister claims Badenoch compared her to a Gestapo officer in heated clash after PMQs
Kemi Badenoch and Education Minister Bridget Phillipson got into a heated row in the House of Commons after Ms Badenoch branded her a “vindictive class warrior”.
The row escalated further when Ms Phillipson accused the Tory leader of “losing his head” following a behind-the-scenes incident following Prime Minister’s Questions.
The first clash occurred during Ms Badenoch’s regular meetings with Sir Keir Starmer, where she directly criticized the Education Secretary.
Ms Phillipson was seen shaking her head as Ms Badenoch claimed she was “taxing private schools to get more teachers but the number of teachers is dwindling”.
“Appointing an evil class warrior as Education Minister has turned out to be a disaster,” he said, suggesting Sir Keir was “disappointed by his incompetence”.
Sir Keir defended Ms Phillipson, who “grew up in poverty” and is “an incredible story of social mobility and success”.
Following the Prime Minister’s testy exchange of questions, Technology Minister Liz Kendall and Ms Phillipson became embroiled in a new incident with the Conservative Party leader.
Ms Kendall is understood to have told Ms Badenoch that what she said was outrageous when the trio met in the department lobby.
A Conservative source said Ms Badenoch responded to the Education Secretary by saying: “I will fight you to the bitter end, you are ruining children’s lives”; This refers to the VAT applied to private schools.
Other sources suggested Ms Badenoch told Ms Phillipson “you’re vindictive, I’ll never stop talking about how vindictive you are”.
Ms Phillipson is understood to have told the Conservative Party leader: “The public will find out who you really are.”
Ms Phillipson said on social media following the row: “Kemi lost her head at the PMQs and afterwards too.
“This isn’t the first time. He makes me look like a Gestapo officer.”
“I wonder what it means for a working-class woman to make record investments in public schools, ending the private school tax breaks that conservatives so hate.”
Sir Keir defended cabinet members who came under fire from Ms Badenoch in the outgoing prime minister’s first public appearance since Monday when he announced his plan to resign.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle called for “a little more civility and respect” after Ms Badenoch also called education secretary Bridget Phillipson a “vindictive class warrior” and accused Rachel Reeves of letting Sir Keir down.
