Jess Phillips admits ‘mistake’ over social media post during disorder
The Home Office minister said she could have phrased a post in a better way as she responded to footage of masked men surrounding a reporter.
Jess Phillips has admitted she made a “mistake” with how she phrased a social media post about masked men confronting a journalist during the riots last week.
Footage from Sky News showed one of the broadcaster’s reporters being approached by hooded and masked men in Ms Phillips’ Birmingham Yardley constituency during a period of disorder in the city.
At the time of the video being released, the Home Office minister responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Reform UK MP Richard Tice which suggested what he called “pro Gaza masked folk” in the video were subject to a different standard of policing than the rioters.
“These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them”, she replied.
“This misinformation was spread entirely to create this content. Don’t spread it Mr Tice!”
In the period since the unrest, Ms Phillips has faced criticism from shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, and his rival for the Conservative leadership James Cleverly, a former home secretary.
Asked about her remarks on Wednesday, she is reported by broadcasters to have said: “I think I almost certainly could have phrased it better.”
Ms Phillips added she was “explaining why those people have gone” in her post, adding: “That’s because of a campaign of misinformation about far-right protests.”
The minister also said: “Of course I would choose my words more carefully.
“I’m more than happy to say that when I make a mistake, absolutely.”
Tory leadership hopeful Mr Tugendhat claimed Ms Phillips should have been “sacked” from her ministerial role by the Prime Minister for her intervention.
He said: “When Jess Phillips sought to justify the militia, vigilantism and violence, to excuse a militia on our streets, Keir Starmer should have sacked her, because ministers must always defend the principle of equality before the law.”
In the aftermath of Ms Phillips’ post, Tory former minister Mr Cleverly wrote on X: “Home Office ministers should not be making excuses for masked men shouting, abusing, and intimidating members of the media.
“Ministers are not commentators or casual observers, they are decision makers and need to think about the consequences of their words and actions.”
