Jess Phillips resigns from Government as Keir Starmer vows to fight on
Jess Phillips has resigned as safeguarding minister, saying she believed Sir Keir Starmer was a “good man” but that is “not enough”
Jess Phillips has resigned as safeguarding minister, saying she believed Sir Keir Starmer was a “good man” but that is “not enough” as calls for him to quit continue.
Pressure has been mounting on the Prime Minister since elections on Thursday saw Labour lose many council seats in England as well as control of the Welsh government.
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips became the second minister to stand down, criticising the Prime Minister’s failure to be “bold”.
In a letter reported by Sky News, Ms Phillips said: “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.”
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.
Cabinet support the Prime Minister
Despite the resignations, Cabinet ministers came out of their meeting this morning backing Sir Keir Starmer.
Four senior ministers spoke out in support of the beleaguered Labour leader after he told his gathered Cabinet he would continue governing.
However, other Cabinet ministers – including those thought to have told Sir Keir to quit – left the meeting without speaking to reporters, pointing to splits in his top team over his future.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and Housing Secretary Steve Reed stood by the Labour leader as they faced the cameras on Downing Street after the Cabinet meeting.
Mr McFadden said nobody publicly challenged Sir Keir to go, and that the Government should “carry on”.
Ms Kendall said: “This Government will do what we were elected to do which is serve the British people. The Prime Minister has my full support in this.
“Let me just say this; there is a process to challenge the leader, nobody has made that challenge and what people would expect me to do is to focus on how we can grow the economy, tackle the cost of living and give them a better life.”
Mr Kyle said Sir Keir was showing “really steadfast leadership”, and Mr Reed said the Prime Minister had his “full support”.