Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson has accused Labour of hypocrisy after equalities minister Bridget Phillipson claimed his party poses a risk to women. Responding on X to a post by Ms Phillipson, who is also Labour Party chairwoman, Mr Anderson quoted her statement: “Reform want to repeal the Equality Act and roll back the rights we have. Reform are a risk women cannot afford to take.” His reply read: “You import rapists and paedophiles every week into our country and then have the cheek to say this? We see you!”
Exchange follows Guardian interview
The exchange follows Ms Phillipson’s interview with The Guardian published on August 20, in which she said: "We can't assume that progress will always continue, and progress is fragile. Equality is fragile, and we have to be kind of ever vigilant."
She added: "And we've got Reform saying they would want to repeal the Equality Act, just as one example, something the Equality Act being the kind of the quiet guardian that allows women to not be sacked just because they're present, and gives so many of us protection from discrimination and harassment."
Anderson cites foreign nationals convicted of sex offences
Mr Anderson has argued that the regular arrival of foreign nationals later convicted of rape and child sex offences undercut Labour’s claims to prioritise women’s safety. Official data show foreign nationals among those convicted of serious sexual offences, although British citizens also commit such crimes.
Ms Phillipson has accused politicians from Reform and the Conservatives of making statements that would have been unacceptable a few years earlier. She continued: "We had Nick Timothy, who said some appalling things about Muslim prayer. Apparently I’m calling him names when I say that’s racist. I think it is fundamentally racist because I don’t think he would say that about any other group."
Police response and migration criticised
She also criticised the police response to violence against women and girls. She said: “We’ve seen some pretty shocking failings in terms of the police response over decades and sadly we’re not seeing the progress that we should in terms of how the police will often respond to this." The government has pointed to its planned social media restrictions for under-16s as part of its response to online harms.
Ms Phillipson’s comments form part of Labour’s efforts under Prime Minister Andy Burnham to contrast its position on equalities legislation with Reform’s. Reform has said it would reform aspects of the Equality Act and prioritise border controls, arguing that high levels of migration have affected social cohesion and public safety.
On migration more broadly, Ms Phillipson said: “Having public consent for migration and having a system that is fair is absolutely essential. If you don’t have that, then everything falls away.”
Responding to her remarks last week, Mr Timothy said: “If Phillipson can identify the racial groups to whom I was racist, she can call me racist. If she can’t, she’ll go on sounding stupid. And I’ll go on saying mass Muslim prayer in public spaces is an act of domination.”
