Conservative lawmakers have accused Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson of hypocrisy, labeling her a "spiteful class warrior" over government plans to curb the rights of council tenants to purchase their homes. The criticism stems from the fact that Phillipson's own family significantly profited from the Right to Buy scheme when purchasing the council house she grew up in.
The controversy erupted when Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative leader, attacked Phillipson's policies, particularly a proposed value-added tax (VAT) on private school fees, which has been linked to school closures. Badenoch stated, "She taxed private schools to pay for more teachers, but the number of teachers has gone down. It turns out that appointing a spiteful class warrior as Education Secretary was a disaster."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended Phillipson by highlighting her working-class background and her journey of social mobility. He noted, "She knows exactly what it means to grow up in poverty... I know her story and it is an incredible story of social mobility and success."
Phillipson has often spoken about her upbringing in a council house in the North East, describing difficult conditions. In 1990, her mother purchased the two-bedroom council house where they lived for £9,600, a discounted price from its £15,490 market value. The property was later sold in May 2023 for £99,950, representing a profit exceeding 900 percent. Estate agents described the property at the time of sale as a "lovely Victorian terrace."
Meanwhile, the Labour party's Social Housing Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, aims to significantly reduce the number of families who can buy their council homes. The proposed legislation would extend the required residency period for tenants to exercise the Right to Buy from three years to ten, and would reduce initial discounts to a maximum of 15 percent. Ministers argue these measures are necessary to increase the stock of social housing. The changes are projected to decrease annual sales from approximately 8,200 to around 850.
Conservatives contend that these new rules exemplify a "one rule for them and another for everyone else" mentality. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake stated, "Labour have once again been caught red-handed displaying their spiteful class-war hypocrisy. They are gutting the very same right-to-buy scheme that Bridget Phillipson and Angela Rayner benefited from, pulling up the drawbridge after taking advantage themselves."
Angela Rayner, a former housing secretary for Labour, also benefited from the Right to Buy scheme. She purchased her council house in Stockport at a discount and sold it eight years later for a £48,000 profit. Phillipson has previously expressed criticism of Margaret Thatcher's policies, stating, "I have never pined for anything associated with Margaret Thatcher. How could I, given the damage she caused?"
Phillipson, who attended comprehensive school and later studied at Oxford University, has used her background to advocate for greater investment in state schools. Responding to Badenoch's remarks, Phillipson posted on social media, accusing the Conservative leader of having "lost her head" and questioning the Tories' opposition to a "working-class woman driving record investment in state schools by ending private schools' tax breaks."