Bridget Phillipson Brutally Slaps Down Lee Anderson In Angry Commons Clash
Bridget Phillipson brutally slapped down Lee Anderson as the pair clashed angrily in the House of Commons.
The Reform UK MP infuriated the education secretary during a debate on last week’s Supreme Court ruling that sex is defined by biology.
Anderson asked Phillipson: “I don’t need a Supreme Court judgment or ruling to tell me that a bloke shouldn’t be in a women’s changing rooms.
“I want to ask the secretary of state a very simple question for more clarity: can a woman have a penis?”
The minister replied: “I’ll tell you what, blokes shouldn’t beat up women. Maybe he should have a word with his colleague.”
That was a reference to another Reform UK MP, James McMurdock, who was jailed 19 years ago for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend, according to court documents.
He spent 21 days in a young offenders’ institution after admitting the attack.
The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, who was elected last July, told Sky News last year: “Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed and apologetic.
“Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault. I was charged for what I did, not for what has been claimed, and I faced the consequences then and paid for my action in full.”
Lee Anderson(Reform MP): Can a woman have a penis?
— Haggis_UK ???????? ???????? (@Haggis_UK) April 22, 2025
Bridget Phillipson: "I'll tell you what, blokes shouldn't beat up women, maybe he should have a word with his colleague." pic.twitter.com/Xs2W6rWRE8
Phillipson had also raised the incident during an earlier exchange with Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice.
He said: “Now we have got confirmation from the Supreme Court what the definition of a woman is, could the secretary of state confirm that all public sector and private sector bodies will apply that definition with immediate effect?”
Phillipson replied: “The Equality and Human Rights Commission will set out a statutory code of practice that will provide further clarity.
“But I would just say to [Mr Tice] that I will take no lectures from his party about the importance of defending women’s rights, given that one of his own number, that sits on those benches, was convicted and went to prison for assaulting his former partner.”
Nigel Farage last year described Mr McMurdock as “good example to young tearaways” who “picked himself up from a terrible situation and made a big success”.