Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has revealed she threatened to resign multiple times over Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US. Lord Mandelson was sacked from the role in September last year due to his ties with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Phillips said she was 'hurt and upset' by the initial appointment. She decided to channel her anger into securing concessions on violence against women and girls policies rather than resigning immediately. 'I didn't just consider resigning; I threatened to resign on a number of occasions and made demands to stop me from resigning,' she stated.
Phillips, who resigned as safeguarding minister earlier this month, accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of lacking boldness. In her resignation letter, she said his 'desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed.'
Since 2015, Phillips has represented Birmingham Yardley and been a vocal campaigner against domestic and sexual violence. Her tenure faced controversy over the government's handling of a grooming gangs inquiry, with five members of the victim liaison panel quitting in protest.
