LONDON – Bridget Phillipson, the UK's Minister for Women and Equalities, has been called "stupid" by a senior Conservative figure following her assertion that racism and sexism have become "normal" in Britain, attributing this shift in part to social media.
Phillipson, formerly the education secretary, cited Reform UK's Robert Jenrick and Conservative politician Nick Timothy as examples of individuals making "racist" remarks. She pointed to Jenrick's comment last October about not seeing "another white face" during a visit to an area of Birmingham, and Timothy's observation that a mass Muslim prayer session in Trafalgar Square was an "act of domination and division."
"Apparently I'm calling him names when I say that's racist," Phillipson stated in an interview with The Guardian. "I think it is fundamentally racist because I don't think he would say that about any other group." She added that such remarks, which might have been reconsidered five or ten years ago, are now becoming commonplace.
Nick Timothy, a justice spokesman for Kemi Badenoch, responded by branding Phillipson "stupid." He challenged her to identify the specific racial groups to whom he was allegedly racist. "If she can't, she'll go on sounding stupid," Timothy said. "And I'll go on saying mass Muslim prayer in public spaces is an act of domination."
Timothy also suggested Phillipson's comments demonstrated the potential dangers of Labour's proposals for a new official definition of "Islamophobia." While not to be enshrined in law, free speech advocates have expressed concerns that it could lead to restrictions on expression. He argued that there is a significant distinction between racial identity, which cannot be changed, and religious beliefs, which can be scrutinized and challenged.
"If she can identify the racial groups to whom I have been racist, she is entitled to call me a racist," Timothy stated. "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."
Phillipson, who was moved from her role as education secretary in a recent reshuffle by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, also expressed concern about younger generations' exposure to online content that exploits grievance. "Things that not very long ago felt totally unacceptable are becoming normal," she said, noting this trend in attitudes toward women and racism alike. Timothy countered that he would continue to express his views freely, and encouraged others to do the same. ![Kemi Badenoch's justice spokesman Nick Timothy said Ms Phillipson had 'unwittingly demonstrated exactly what we have warned about since Labour first promised an "Islamophobia" definition']( "Kemi Badenoch's justice spokesman Nick Timothy said Ms Phillipson had 'unwittingly demonstrated exactly what we have warned about since Labour first promised an "Islamophobia" definition"')