Kemi Badenoch and Bridget Phillipson during prime minister's questions in the CommonsKemi Badenoch accused Bridget Phillipson of “destroying children’s lives” during an extraordinary bust-up after prime minister’s questions.
The pair clashed after several Labour MPs confronted the Tory leader in the Commons.
Badenoch had earlier been reprimanded by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after she called Phillipson, the education secretary, a “spiteful class warrior” for adding VAT to private school fees.
A Tory source said: “Labour MPs confronted Kemi, including Bridget Phillipson. Kemi replied: ‘I will never stop fighting you. You’re destroying children’s lives’.”
An ally of Phillipson told HuffPost UK: “Badenoch has once again disgraced herself.
“She and her putrid party can’t stand working class women who do well.
“If standing up for the 94% of kids in state schools makes Bridget a spiteful class warrior then she’ll wear it with pride.”
The Conservative leader stunned many within the Labour Party with her visceral attack on Keir Starmer and his most senior ministers in the Commons today.
Speaking during Starmer’s first PMQs since he announced his resignation on Monday, Badenoch even accused Labour MPs of sticking “400 knives” in the prime minister’s back.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ended up cutting in, telling the Commons: “Let us think about the language that we use.
“When we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents think they can use the same language against each other. Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect to each other.”
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