Tories extend offer to collaborate with Labour on violence against women and girls
The Conservative Party has proposed to “work together” with Labour’s women and equalities secretary Bridget Phillipson after facing accusations of “weaponising” violence against women and girls (VAWG) for political gain, particularly concerning immigration, reports BritPanorama.
However, Ms. Phillipson, who also chairs the Labour Party, has declined this offer, arguing that the Tories have again focused on immigration rather than addressing the deeper, systemic issues of violence against women.
Shadow equalities secretary Joy Morrissey reached out to Ms. Phillipson, inviting her to visit Piddington, Oxfordshire, where local women have expressed safety concerns over the impending arrival of 1,256 male illegal migrants at a nearby camp. The village has made headlines for its symbolic vote advocating for independence from the UK amid outrage about the camp’s establishment.
Ms. Morrissey, who previously visited Piddington with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, has also indicated a willingness to meet with victims of grooming gangs. This national scandal has highlighted cases where men of Asian heritage have preyed on underage white girls, often ignored by authorities in Labour-led council areas out of fear of being labelled as racist.
The Conservative Party’s offer came on the heels of an exclusive interview with Ms. Phillipson in which she accused the Tories and the Reform party of “weaponising” the issue of violence against women without genuinely seeking solutions. She emphasized the seriousness of VAWG, calling it a “national emergency,” stating that “we live in a country where a woman is killed by her partner or former partner every five days.”
In her critique of the Tories’ handling of VAWG, Ms. Phillipson questioned: “When was the last time Kemi Badenoch visited a rape crisis centre or women’s refuge? Has Nigel Farage ever shown any interest in visiting a women’s refuge, or is he only interested in talking about violence against women when it allows them to make a political point?”
In response, Ms. Morrissey asserted that Ms. Phillipson has not met with Piddington’s women, despite their pleas, and accused her of voting against a comprehensive national inquiry into grooming gangs earlier this year. She extended a further invitation to Ms. Phillipson for collaboration, urging, “If you genuinely care about women feeling unsafe, I’ll work with you. Come with me to Piddington and meet the women. Let’s also go meet rape gang victims across the country together and agree on a response.”
This invitation was again rejected by Ms. Phillipson, with Labour arguing that it underscores the Tories’ lack of seriousness on the issue. A Labour source pointed out, “A woman is killed by her partner or ex every five days in this country. Had Kemi Badenoch done anything for women during her time in government, she would know the abuse of women is a sadly prevalent problem across all communities.” They added that Ms. Phillipson, having run a women’s refuge, is committed to tackling these issues at their source rather than adopting a superficial political stance.
The ongoing exchange highlights the considerable tension between Labour and the Conservatives regarding the handling of violence against women and girls, illustrating the complexities of political discourse intertwined with pressing societal issues.
