Phillips brands Labour 'sexist' amid leadership contest speculation
Jess Phillips tells Hay literary festival that Labour’s lack of permanent female leadership reflects systemic bias, while dismissing the notion that gender alone ensures better policy outcomes for women.
Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has described the Labour Party as "sexist" for its historical inability to appoint a permanent female leader, arguing that the party remains entrenched in patriarchal structures. Speaking at the Hay literary festival, Phillips, who resigned in May citing a loss of confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stated that every institution is "led by the patriarchy" and that Labour’s record contrasts sharply with the Conservative Party, which has produced three female prime ministers.
Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, noted that Labour has only ever had acting leaders, such as Margaret Beckett and Harriet Harman. She used the platform to challenge the assumption that female leadership inherently improves outcomes for women, citing the economic impact of former Prime Minister Liz Truss. Phillips revealed that her own mortgage increased by £1,000 a month during Truss’s tenure, a financial burden she noted Truss had not repaid.
The comments come as speculation intensifies regarding the upcoming Labour leadership contest. Phillips identified Andy Burnham as the likely frontrunner, contingent on his victory in the Makerfield byelection on 18 June. She described Health Secretary Wes Streeting as Burnham’s primary competition from the right of the party, while noting that both candidates are associated with the "soft left" faction.
Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, despite being cleared by HMRC over tax affairs, has not declared an intention to run for the leadership. Phillips stated that Rayner will instead campaign for Burnham in the byelection. Phillips expressed hope for "wild cards" in the contest, specifically questioning whether Starmer would stand. She noted that if Starmer does not step down, he would automatically appear on the ballot.
Phillips, who appeared on a panel with Green MP Ellie Chowns and Times journalist Patrick Maguire, described the current political climate as "terrible" and "heart-wrenching." She criticised the "anti-politics" of the Greens and Reform UK as easy to dismiss without committing to real solutions, while emphasising that decency in governance should not be viewed as a throwaway concept.