Top minister's savage clapback at Kemi Badenoch's 'fought for women' claim

The Equalities Minister has accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of being a "keyboard warrior" who did nothing to improve the lives of women when she was in Government.

MPs for the first time today debated that a woman and sex in the Equality Act relates to "a biological woman and biological sex". Speaking from the government benches in the Commons, took aim at the Conservatives' record after Ms Badenoch claimed "at every point we have fought for women".

Ms Phillipson, who is also the Education Secretary, listed the Tories' dire record on women's safety across the country. She also raised Ms Badenoch having hacked the website of Labour's Harriet Harman, who at the time was the Equalities Minister driving through the landmark Equalities Act in the late 2000s.

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She told the Conservative leader: "While was delivering the ground-breaking Equality Act, which this ruling confirms sets in law the basis for single sex spaces, what was the Leader of the Opposition doing? She was busy hacking the website of the leading architect of the Equality Act - forever the keyboard warrior.

"And she has learned nothing from her party's crushing electoral defeat last year. She held the post of Minister for Women and Equalities for two years, and did precisely nothing, provided no clarity, nothing to improve the lives of women which are materially worse on her watch.

"She comes here claiming to speak for women, but let's look at her record and her party's record: an increase in stalking offences; prosecutions and convictions for domestic abuse nearly halved since 2015; the rape charge rate at a record low; survivors of sexual violence waiting years for justice; a 2000% increase in the use of mixed-sex wards in over ten years. That is their record."

Top judges last week ruled that biological sex should determine in a decision that could have far-reaching repercussions. Earlier today said he - which has sparked an - and said it has given "much needed clarity".

But chair of the Commons' women and equalities chairwoman Sarah Owen told Ms Phillipson: "Far from this ruling providing clarity, trans, intersex and non binary, people are instead anxious and unsure about where this ruling leaves them, legally and practically, as they go about their lives. Does the minister recognise that this ruling was made without a single contribution from trans people themselves, and will she ensure that trans, intersex and non binary people will be involved in any upcoming new guidance."

Labour MP Dawn Butler hit out at people using the issue as a "political football" and said they should be "ashamed of themselves". She questioned how toilet entry will be policed and gave the example of her "butch Lesbian friends" having been told to leave women's toilets. She questioned whether trans men would be able to use women's toilets and whether people's genitalia will need to be checked when going into the toilet, adding: "It makes no sense."

A furious Emily Darlington, who is also a Labour MP, criticised Ms Badenoch's behaviour during the debate. She said: "There are some days I'm really proud to be an MP and the level of debate in this chamber. And there are some days like today, when, quite frankly, the Leader of the Opposition was absolutely appalling. She continues to talk over people, not listen, laugh at people while they're talking about an issue that is very, very serious. People out there are scared as a result of this judgement, and they will..." She was then cut off by shouting on the Tory benches, with her hitting back: "Could you maybe let me speak?"

Ms Darlington continued: "Does the Secretary of State agree with me: The debate in this Chamber is listened to by those people who are today scared, and the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition in talking over people, laughing at people, and when cis men violence was mentioned, the opposite benches laughed. That does not reassure women or trans women in this country."

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Ms Phillipson insisted the Supreme Court decision had provided "clarity". She said Britain’s equality regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is “working quickly to issue an updated statutory code” to ensure the ruling is clear across a range of settings, from healthcare and prisons to sport and single sex support groups. She added that she expects the EHRC to engage with "a range of stakeholders with a range of different views" during the process.

Elsewhere Ms Phillipson said all people in our country, including both women and trans people, deserve “dignity and respect”. She cautioned everyone in the debate to "respect one another". She referenced seven statues - including one of suffragette Millicent Fawcett - having been vandalised with graffiti during a trans rights rally in London over the weekend.

She said those it must be ensured "where we do disagree, we do not descend into hate-filled rhetoric or involve ourselves in the unfortunate and deeply regrettable protests in terms of the nature of the defacement of statues... now is the opportunity arising from the Supreme Court judgement to draw a line under this to make sure the right guidance is in place and clarity is there for all."

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