Labour's women and equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson, has faced criticism for her assertion that "all women in society are unsafe," a statement made in response to concerns raised by female residents in Piddington, Oxfordshire. The village is set to house over 1,000 asylum seekers, prompting an open letter from 133 women expressing fears about their safety.

Phillipson acknowledged the validity of these fears, stating, "Sadly, yes, women are right to be fearful in society more widely about the attitudes and the normalization of attitudes towards women and violence against women." She elaborated that women in the country face harassment on the streets, intimidation at public events, and young girls are exposed to harmful language, emphasizing that this is a cultural issue that needs to shift. She characterized the situation as a "much bigger challenge that we all of us have to tackle together."

In response to the concerns, Phillipson announced the creation of a new government taskforce aimed at tackling misogyny across society by bringing together national leaders and local experts. However, this initiative was met with skepticism from the opposition.

Shadow minister for women and equalities, Joy Morrissey MP, dismissed the taskforce as a mere "talking shop." She criticized the government's approach, stating, "A talking shop to examine 'attitudes' to women will make about as little difference to that vital task as giving illegal migrant men a leaflet to ask them not to rape British women and girls." Morrissey accused the government of making "vacuous announcements" instead of taking concrete action and claimed Labour has "no serious plan for ending the crisis of violence against women and girls."

This exchange follows a previous controversy regarding a government pamphlet distributed to asylum seekers, which warned them that rape is illegal in the UK. Campaigners criticized the booklet as ineffective, arguing that deeply ingrained sexism and abusive behavior cannot be remedied by such publications.

Morrissey argued that women in Piddington have "every right to ask questions" and should not be "punished because of this government's failure to secure our borders." She suggested that when the government finds it necessary to explain to new arrivals that sexual violence is illegal, it is understandable for local women to question who is being housed near them.

The Oxfordshire village of Piddington, where the villagers are up in arms over the proposed migrant centre being built next to their tiny village

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey commented on the situation, stating that while the "vast majority" of migrants are not a threat, he agreed with the Piddington residents that the decision to house a large concentration of young men at the former military site was "a very bad decision."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey opposed placing a large concentration of young male asylum seekers at the MoD site, agreeing with local residents that it was a poor decision despite stating that most migrants pose no threat

Residents of Piddington recently held a symbolic independence 'referendum' to protest the plans.