Labour MPs criticise language used by Kemi Badenoch in fractious PMQs

Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday. Photograph: House of Commons View image in fullscreen Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday. Photograph: House of Commons Labour MPs criticise language used by Kemi Badenoch in fractious PMQs Tory leader reprimanded by speaker for invective against minister and saying Starmer had ‘400 knives in his back’ Labour MPs have criticised Kemi Badenoch after a fractious prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, in which she accused the education secretary of being a “spiteful class warrior”. In a rare move, Badenoch was chastised by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, in the chamber of the House of Commons after she took the personal swipe at Bridget Phillipson before saying that Keir Starmer had been betrayed and had “400 knives stuck in his back”. “Let us think about th e language we use,” said Hoyle. “Because when we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language. Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect.” Phillipson shook her head as the Conservative leader – referring to the Labour policy of applying 20% VAT to private school fees from the start of 2025 – said she had “taxed private schools to pay for more teachers, but the number of teachers has gone down” and had let Starmer down with “her incompetence”. Badenoch added: “It turns out appointing a spiteful class warrior as education secretary was a disaster.” Starmer responded that Phillipson, who experienced childhood poverty growing up in the north-east of England, was an “incredible story of social mobility and success” and added: “I am so proud … It drives every single priority and value that she has. “I would have thought the party opposite would recognise and understand some of that, but they’ve fallen so low, they don’t.” Badenoch then turned on cheering Labour MPs, accusing them of “cheering so loudly with their 400 knives stuck in [Starmer’s] back”. When MPs reacted angrily, she said: “They don’t like it up them, but they know what I’m saying.” After PMQs, sources reported a row broke out between Badenoch and Phillipson as MPs left the chamber. Labour sources said the technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said to Badenoch as they were leaving: “What you said was absolutely outrageous,” at which Badenoch turned to Phillipson and said: “You are spiteful. I will keep talking about how spiteful you are.” An ally of Phillipson said Labour whips were referring the incident to the speaker, while the Labour MP Tulip Siddiq said she would make a point of order, a procedure used to draw attention to a potential violation of parliamentary rules. “Badenoch has yet again disgraced herself,” said an ally of Phillipson. “She’s chosen to attack the only working-class woman from the north-east of England in the cabinet, because the Tories hate working-class people 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