Bridget Phillipson has written to Kemi Badenoch.Bridget Phillipson has called on Kemi Badenoch to expel Liz Truss from the Tories after she claimed far-right agitator Tommy Robinson had been “unfairly demonised”.
The former prime minister – who only lasted 49 days in No.10 after her mini-Budget crashed the economy – made the comment in an interview with Newsweek.
Discussing Robinson’s past focus on the child grooming gangs scandal, Truss said: “I think it is correct that Tommy Robinson drew attention to a problem and a heinous issue that has been brushed under the carpet by many people.”
Asked if she thought Robinson had been “unfairly demonised”, she said: “Yes, I do.”
HuffPost UK can reveal that education secretary Phillipson, who is running to be Labour’s deputy leader, has written to Badenoch demanding Truss be kicked out of the Conservatives.
In her letter, she says: “Liz’s short spell as prime minister saw her crashing our economy, putting people’s pension provision at risk, sending homeowners’ mortgages soaring, and left a vast black hole in the public finances.
“But her support for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, otherwise known as Tommy Robinson, plumbs new depths and is completely unbecoming of a former prime minister. I would hope it is unbecoming of any member of the Conservative Party.”
Phillipson adds: “If Liz Truss retains her membership under your leadership then the British people can only conclude that you do not see an issue with her comments.
“It will underline that the Conservatives, for so long and so often Britain’s party of government, have fallen headlong into the gutter under your leadership, pandering to bigots and racists in a desperate and wholly misguided attempt to remain relevant.”
Posting on X, Theresa May’s former chief of staff Gavin Barwell said: “Rishi Sunak should have thrown Truss out of the Conservative Party when he became leader; Kemi Badenoch should definitely do so now.”
Asked if Truss was still welcome in his party, shadow chancellor Mel Stride told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Those are matters for Kemi Badenoch and the leadership, but that is once again something I would not be saying.
“I think Tommy Robinson, who has served time in prison for various misdemeanours and whose conduct in politics is a very long way from the way which I think politics should be conducted, and is part of the far-right that I don’t want to have any truck with.”
The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.
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