Jess Phillips accuses Starmer of "catastrophic mistakes" and resigns from government
In a lengthy and honest statement, the safeguarding minister said she believes the Prime Minister is a "good man fundamentally" but that the Labour government had made "catastrophic mistakes".
"The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed," the Birmingham Yardley MP added.
She said Labour governments "forged progress" but this one was lacking the motivation for change.
"I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress," she said.
Problems are mounting for the Prime Minister, after a dismal showing at last week’s local elections in which Labour lost more than 1,400 councillors.
Earlier, Miatta Fahnbulleh quit and 81 out of Labour’s 403 MPs have now demanded Sir Keir’s departure after the party’s electoral mauling.
In her letter, she wrote: “I think you are a good man fundamentally, who cares about the right things however I have seen first-hand how that is not enough.
“The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed.”
She said delays to proposals aimed at preventing children from taking explicit images of themselves online were an example of “incremental change. Nothing bold about it”.
Ms Phillips continued: “I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter.
“I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.
“Decency is vital, calm curiosity is also needed, but so too are fight and drive required. Have a row, push back, make arguments, bring people along. Standing up and being counted can’t always be workshopped. Politics is as much about feelings as policy, especially at the moment…
“I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.”
STATEMENT IN FULL
I want to start by first saying that we have worked closely together on Violence Against Women and Girls for many years and I have no doubt you have genuine knowledge and desire to rectify this dreadful social ill.
We have started to make steps towards change whilst in government and I have been grateful for your support.
However, it would be remiss of me not to say that real change and direction in this area usually came from threats made by me in light of catastrophic mistakes.
The Mandelson saga whenever it bubbled up made Number 10 kick into gear on the subject in order to prove our credentials. I will never waste a crisis to make advancements for women and girls and so demands were made and some were met.
I think you are a good man fundamentally, who cares about the right things however I have seen first-hand how that is not enough. The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed.
Over a year ago presented solutions, long worked on by brilliant civil servants that would end the ability for children in the UK to take naked images of themselves. 91% of online child sex abuse is self-generated by children groomed, tricked and exploited into abuse.
The technology exists to stop children being able to take naked images of themselves. We could make this possible on every phone and device in the country. We could stop this abuse. It has taken me a year to get you to agree to even threaten to legislate in this space. Not legislate, just threaten.
This is the definition of incremental change. Nothing bold about it. The announcement was meant to be in March, I’m still on a promise this will happen in June, I’ve given up believing it. How many children were left without a safety net in the time we dilly-dallied and worried about tech bosses? This is just one example.
Labour governments come around rarely is the constant refrain at the moment. It’s true they are precious.
Every Labour government in my and my family’s lifetime has forged progress that changed our country and the world for the better. I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter.
I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.
Decency is vital, calm curiosity is also needed, but so too are fight and drive required. Have a row, push back, make arguments, bring people along. Standing up and being counted can’t always be workshopped.
Politics is as much about feelings as policy, especially at the moment.
I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.
It came after Sir Keir told his Cabinet he would continue governing, and several senior ministers emerged from the meeting rallying around him.
He avoided being directly challenged as he declined to discuss his leadership during Tuesday’s gathering or meet critics individually afterwards, the Press Association understands.
Sir Keir said he would only speak to ministers one-on-one about his fate in the wake of his party’s electoral mauling, but did not do so once Cabinet concluded, according to sources.
Ms Phillips’ departure followed the resignation on Tuesday morning of Miatta Fahnbulleh, who told the Prime Minister “to do the right thing for the country and the party and set a timetable for an orderly transition” as the public had lost trust in him because of issues such as the scrapping of the winter fuel payment.
Technology & Business Editor
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