Bridget Phillipson branded 'stupid' by senior Tory after claiming racism and sexism were 'normal' in Britain

By CHRISTIAN CALGIE, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE Published: 00:40, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 00:49, 22 August 2026 Bridget Phillipson was branded 'stupid' by a top Conservative yesterday amid a furious racism row. The former education secretary claimed racism and sexism have become 'normal' in Britain thanks to social media. The minister for women and equalities pointed to Reform UK's Robert Jenrick and Tory Nick Timothy as proof of this, accusing them of making 'racist' remarks in recent years. Last October Mr Jenrick complained he 'didn't see another white face' during a visit to an area of Birmingham, while Mr Timothy said that a mass Muslim prayer session in Trafalgar Square was an 'act of domination and division'. Ms Phillipson told The Guardian: '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.' She added: 'I find it shocking that we hear that from Opposition spokespeople, in a way that I think even five, ten years ago they would have had a second thought about that. It's become normal.' But Mr Timothy, Kemi Badenoch's justice spokesman, branded the Cabinet minister 'stupid'. Bridget Phillipson was branded 'stupid' by a top Conservative yesterday amid a furious racism row He 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.' He later told the Daily Mail that Ms Phillipson's comments serve as a further warning about Labour's proposals to introduce a new official definition of 'Islamophobia'. It will not be set in law, but free speech campaigners have warned it will lead to a clampdown on freedom of expression. Mr Timothy said Ms Phillipson had 'unwittingly demonstrated exactly what we have warned about since Labour first promised an "Islamophobia" definition'. He added: 'There is a world of difference between racial identity and religious beliefs. 'You can't help being the race you are, but you choose the beliefs you hold. And religious beliefs – like any other ideas – should be scrutinised and challenged and satirised freely. 'If she can identify the racial groups to whom I have been racist, she is entitled to call me a racist. 'If she can't, and just shouts 'racist' at political opponents instead of debating them, she is not only proving the limitations of her own mind [but] is proving beyond doubt that this "Islamophobia" definition is wrong, dangerous and must be scrapped.' Kemi Badenoch's justice spokesman Nick Timothy (pictured in January this year) said Ms Phillipson had 'unwittingly demonstrated exactly what we have warned about since Labour first promised an "Islamophobia" definition' Mr Timothy added: 'I will go on saying exactly what I think – and so should everyone else.' Ms Phillipson, who was demoted from her previous role as education secretary in new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's reshuffle, added that she is worried 'about our sons and what they're being exposed to, especially online and the extent to which we have this whole industry that's been built up on exploiting grievance'. She added: 'Things that not very long ago felt totally unacceptable are becoming normal. 'And I think we're seeing that in terms of attitudes towards women, and I think we see that in terms of attitudes around racism.'