Bridget Phillipson MP
@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
🌹 Proud Labour MP for Houghton & Sunderland South
📚 Secretary of State for Education
🟰 Minister for Women & Equalities
📚 Secretary of State for Education
🟰 Minister for Women & Equalities
Pinned
An honour to address @tuc.org.uk.
I've learned so much from my community, it shaped me. The values that underpin our movement motivate me every day.
It's time we unite, put them into practice and build a modern Britain that works for working people.
I've learned so much from my community, it shaped me. The values that underpin our movement motivate me every day.
It's time we unite, put them into practice and build a modern Britain that works for working people.
Happy New Year!
Spent a little time reflecting on the year behind & the year to come on the @polcurrency.bsky.social podcast just out.
shows.acast.com/politicalcur...
Spent a little time reflecting on the year behind & the year to come on the @polcurrency.bsky.social podcast just out.
shows.acast.com/politicalcur...
Bridget Phillipson on the two-child cap, Reform, and the deputy leadership | Political Currency
shows.acast.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Happy New Year!
Spent a little time reflecting on the year behind & the year to come on the @polcurrency.bsky.social podcast just out.
shows.acast.com/politicalcur...
Spent a little time reflecting on the year behind & the year to come on the @polcurrency.bsky.social podcast just out.
shows.acast.com/politicalcur...
Labour has begun a generational overhaul of children's social care, but we know care leavers need help right now.
We're stepping in to back them with better physical and mental health support.
Breaking down barriers to opportunity, for all.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
We're stepping in to back them with better physical and mental health support.
Breaking down barriers to opportunity, for all.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Young care leavers in England to get free prescriptions, dental and eye services
Those under-25 to receive help while a pilot will trial paid internships in NHS and a guaranteed interview scheme
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Labour has begun a generational overhaul of children's social care, but we know care leavers need help right now.
We're stepping in to back them with better physical and mental health support.
Breaking down barriers to opportunity, for all.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
We're stepping in to back them with better physical and mental health support.
Breaking down barriers to opportunity, for all.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Thank you to everyone working in education for all your dedication this year.
We've achieved so much together already. I'm determined to work with you to achieve even more in 2026.
I hope you have a well deserved, peaceful break.
We've achieved so much together already. I'm determined to work with you to achieve even more in 2026.
I hope you have a well deserved, peaceful break.
December 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Thank you to everyone working in education for all your dedication this year.
We've achieved so much together already. I'm determined to work with you to achieve even more in 2026.
I hope you have a well deserved, peaceful break.
We've achieved so much together already. I'm determined to work with you to achieve even more in 2026.
I hope you have a well deserved, peaceful break.
This year, we gave working parents 30 hours of government-funded childcare, saving them up to £7,500.
We're keeping up momentum to provide more high-quality early years education, giving children growing up in our country the best start in life.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
We're keeping up momentum to provide more high-quality early years education, giving children growing up in our country the best start in life.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Record £9.5 billion early years investment
Record £9.5 billion early years investment next year to help families access affordable childcare and boost growth by supporting parents back into work
www.gov.uk
December 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This year, we gave working parents 30 hours of government-funded childcare, saving them up to £7,500.
We're keeping up momentum to provide more high-quality early years education, giving children growing up in our country the best start in life.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
We're keeping up momentum to provide more high-quality early years education, giving children growing up in our country the best start in life.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Congratulations to Andrea Egan on winning election as UNISON General Secretary.
UNISON members are the backbone of our schools, colleges, and universities; of family support & children’s social care.
Thank you to Christina McAnea for her huge contribution to the labour movement.
UNISON members are the backbone of our schools, colleges, and universities; of family support & children’s social care.
Thank you to Christina McAnea for her huge contribution to the labour movement.
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Congratulations to Andrea Egan on winning election as UNISON General Secretary.
UNISON members are the backbone of our schools, colleges, and universities; of family support & children’s social care.
Thank you to Christina McAnea for her huge contribution to the labour movement.
UNISON members are the backbone of our schools, colleges, and universities; of family support & children’s social care.
Thank you to Christina McAnea for her huge contribution to the labour movement.
I wanted to highlight the Department for Education’s attendance team, winners of the Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service 🏆
Working with schools and parents, the team oversaw the biggest improvement in attendance in a decade: 5 million school days gained.
Massive congrats!
Working with schools and parents, the team oversaw the biggest improvement in attendance in a decade: 5 million school days gained.
Massive congrats!
December 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I wanted to highlight the Department for Education’s attendance team, winners of the Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service 🏆
Working with schools and parents, the team oversaw the biggest improvement in attendance in a decade: 5 million school days gained.
Massive congrats!
Working with schools and parents, the team oversaw the biggest improvement in attendance in a decade: 5 million school days gained.
Massive congrats!
You’ll hear some pearl clutching from the Tories today. They should’ve invested in SEND or RAAC schools they left to crumble, instead they frittered cash away.
The Tories once claimed to be the party of pragmatism. Today, that mantle belongs to Labour.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The Tories once claimed to be the party of pragmatism. Today, that mantle belongs to Labour.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Tory governments spent £325m on free schools that failed or disappeared
More than £10bn was committed to building new schools between 2014-15 and 2023-24, compared with £6.8bn for rebuilding existing schools
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
You’ll hear some pearl clutching from the Tories today. They should’ve invested in SEND or RAAC schools they left to crumble, instead they frittered cash away.
The Tories once claimed to be the party of pragmatism. Today, that mantle belongs to Labour.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The Tories once claimed to be the party of pragmatism. Today, that mantle belongs to Labour.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
This investment will change lives.
It'll go towards bespoke, calming spaces to help children with additional needs get the support they need at a good, local school on their doorstep.
Labour is building schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It'll go towards bespoke, calming spaces to help children with additional needs get the support they need at a good, local school on their doorstep.
Labour is building schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Councils given £3bn to create thousands more spaces for Send pupils
The government is promising 50,000 more places for children with special educational needs in schools in England.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
This investment will change lives.
It'll go towards bespoke, calming spaces to help children with additional needs get the support they need at a good, local school on their doorstep.
Labour is building schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It'll go towards bespoke, calming spaces to help children with additional needs get the support they need at a good, local school on their doorstep.
Labour is building schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
For the record:
📈 2,300 more secondary and special school teachers
📈 Trainee teachers up 11%
📈 Physics up 36%
📈 Computing up 44%
📈 Maths up 16%
📈 Attendance improving
📈 Behaviour improving
Labour is getting more children in class & more teachers in front of them.
#PMQs
📈 2,300 more secondary and special school teachers
📈 Trainee teachers up 11%
📈 Physics up 36%
📈 Computing up 44%
📈 Maths up 16%
📈 Attendance improving
📈 Behaviour improving
Labour is getting more children in class & more teachers in front of them.
#PMQs
December 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
For the record:
📈 2,300 more secondary and special school teachers
📈 Trainee teachers up 11%
📈 Physics up 36%
📈 Computing up 44%
📈 Maths up 16%
📈 Attendance improving
📈 Behaviour improving
Labour is getting more children in class & more teachers in front of them.
#PMQs
📈 2,300 more secondary and special school teachers
📈 Trainee teachers up 11%
📈 Physics up 36%
📈 Computing up 44%
📈 Maths up 16%
📈 Attendance improving
📈 Behaviour improving
Labour is getting more children in class & more teachers in front of them.
#PMQs
Thanks to those coming forward, trainee teacher numbers are at a post-pandemic high.
We're getting more children back in classrooms, more teachers in front of them.
We promised 6,500 new teachers driving up standards in our schools. Labour is delivering.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
We're getting more children back in classrooms, more teachers in front of them.
We promised 6,500 new teachers driving up standards in our schools. Labour is delivering.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Surge in graduates becoming teachers boosts recruitment for maths and sciences
DfE figures showed an 11% increase in teacher trainees in England this year compared with 2024, the biggest rise after the pandemic
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Thanks to those coming forward, trainee teacher numbers are at a post-pandemic high.
We're getting more children back in classrooms, more teachers in front of them.
We promised 6,500 new teachers driving up standards in our schools. Labour is delivering.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
We're getting more children back in classrooms, more teachers in front of them.
We promised 6,500 new teachers driving up standards in our schools. Labour is delivering.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
It is a national scandal.
I’m asking Parliament to give us the powers to regulate children’s care providers properly — and impose a profit cap if needed.
Part of Labour's landmark bill, the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I’m asking Parliament to give us the powers to regulate children’s care providers properly — and impose a profit cap if needed.
Part of Labour's landmark bill, the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cost of unregistered children's care homes a 'national scandal' - Ofsted
The Children's Homes Association says there is no clear national plan and government must 'fix the system'.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It is a national scandal.
I’m asking Parliament to give us the powers to regulate children’s care providers properly — and impose a profit cap if needed.
Part of Labour's landmark bill, the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I’m asking Parliament to give us the powers to regulate children’s care providers properly — and impose a profit cap if needed.
Part of Labour's landmark bill, the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Labour will build a Britain where no child goes hungry, where every child has opportunities, where every family has power and choices in life.
So proud to present the Child Poverty Strategy to Parliament.
So proud to present the Child Poverty Strategy to Parliament.
December 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Labour will build a Britain where no child goes hungry, where every child has opportunities, where every family has power and choices in life.
So proud to present the Child Poverty Strategy to Parliament.
So proud to present the Child Poverty Strategy to Parliament.
The Tories say that all parties want to tackle child poverty.
Sadly, it's not true. Only Labour have taken action.
We'll drive the largest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
Deeds, not words.
Sadly, it's not true. Only Labour have taken action.
We'll drive the largest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
Deeds, not words.
December 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Tories say that all parties want to tackle child poverty.
Sadly, it's not true. Only Labour have taken action.
We'll drive the largest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
Deeds, not words.
Sadly, it's not true. Only Labour have taken action.
We'll drive the largest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
Deeds, not words.
Scrapping the two child limit is the single most effective way of lifting the largest number of children out of poverty.
But our cross-government efforts will go further to drive the biggest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
But our cross-government efforts will go further to drive the biggest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
December 6, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Scrapping the two child limit is the single most effective way of lifting the largest number of children out of poverty.
But our cross-government efforts will go further to drive the biggest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
But our cross-government efforts will go further to drive the biggest reduction of child poverty within a single Parliament.
Proud to unveil the Child Poverty Strategy.
Child poverty is a scourge I grew up with, it is a scourge I want to end.
This government will drive the biggest reduction of child poverty in a single Parliament. This is how we get there.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Child poverty is a scourge I grew up with, it is a scourge I want to end.
This government will drive the biggest reduction of child poverty in a single Parliament. This is how we get there.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty
Strategy document setting out the government’s ambitious decade long mission to tackle the drivers of child poverty across the UK.
www.gov.uk
December 5, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Proud to unveil the Child Poverty Strategy.
Child poverty is a scourge I grew up with, it is a scourge I want to end.
This government will drive the biggest reduction of child poverty in a single Parliament. This is how we get there.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Child poverty is a scourge I grew up with, it is a scourge I want to end.
This government will drive the biggest reduction of child poverty in a single Parliament. This is how we get there.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The National Behaviour Survey slipped out during a busy news period, but look at the progress that we've made — with school staff & parents — over the past year.
Lots more to be done, but so happy that children are enjoying school more, they feel they belong, and they feel safe.
Lots more to be done, but so happy that children are enjoying school more, they feel they belong, and they feel safe.
December 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The National Behaviour Survey slipped out during a busy news period, but look at the progress that we've made — with school staff & parents — over the past year.
Lots more to be done, but so happy that children are enjoying school more, they feel they belong, and they feel safe.
Lots more to be done, but so happy that children are enjoying school more, they feel they belong, and they feel safe.
Last week was seismic.
The decisions Labour took will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, driving the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament.
The decisions Labour took will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, driving the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament.
December 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Last week was seismic.
The decisions Labour took will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, driving the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament.
The decisions Labour took will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, driving the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament.
Latest apprenticeship stats:
🆙 Starts up
🆙 Participation up
🆙 Achievements up
They haven't dropped once under Labour, because we're backing our young people to unlock opportunity and drive growth.
🆙 Starts up
🆙 Participation up
🆙 Achievements up
They haven't dropped once under Labour, because we're backing our young people to unlock opportunity and drive growth.
December 1, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Latest apprenticeship stats:
🆙 Starts up
🆙 Participation up
🆙 Achievements up
They haven't dropped once under Labour, because we're backing our young people to unlock opportunity and drive growth.
🆙 Starts up
🆙 Participation up
🆙 Achievements up
They haven't dropped once under Labour, because we're backing our young people to unlock opportunity and drive growth.
Labour has brought forward the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation, but we won't let momentum stop there.
We're investing in stronger services to build stronger families, so every child gets the best start in life.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
We're investing in stronger services to build stronger families, so every child gets the best start in life.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Education Secretary 'driven to reshape social care after women's refuge horrors'
The Education Secretary has pledged an extra £547million to keep families together and stop kids being put into care, saying: "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe home and a loving family."
www.mirror.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Labour has brought forward the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation, but we won't let momentum stop there.
We're investing in stronger services to build stronger families, so every child gets the best start in life.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
We're investing in stronger services to build stronger families, so every child gets the best start in life.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Scrapping the two-child cap is both anti-poverty & pro-learning.
Children don’t come to school ready to learn if they live in poverty. Teachers can’t focus on teaching if they’re plugging gaps elsewhere.
What goes on outside the school gates makes a big difference inside them.
Children don’t come to school ready to learn if they live in poverty. Teachers can’t focus on teaching if they’re plugging gaps elsewhere.
What goes on outside the school gates makes a big difference inside them.
November 28, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Scrapping the two-child cap is both anti-poverty & pro-learning.
Children don’t come to school ready to learn if they live in poverty. Teachers can’t focus on teaching if they’re plugging gaps elsewhere.
What goes on outside the school gates makes a big difference inside them.
Children don’t come to school ready to learn if they live in poverty. Teachers can’t focus on teaching if they’re plugging gaps elsewhere.
What goes on outside the school gates makes a big difference inside them.
I know some of the stories around the OBR and SEND have caused a bit of a stir.
Let me clear things up 👇
Let me clear things up 👇
November 28, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I know some of the stories around the OBR and SEND have caused a bit of a stir.
Let me clear things up 👇
Let me clear things up 👇
Children growing up in our country deserve the best start in life – nothing less.
Today’s Budget means we will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament.
Today’s Budget means we will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament.
November 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Children growing up in our country deserve the best start in life – nothing less.
Today’s Budget means we will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament.
Today’s Budget means we will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament.
Labour is scrapping the two child benefit cap to deliver on our historic moral mission of tackling child poverty.
November 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Labour is scrapping the two child benefit cap to deliver on our historic moral mission of tackling child poverty.
Always the way, isn't it? Graduate from top uni says other people shouldn't aspire to go to university.
The Prime Minister's target – two thirds of young people getting a degree or an apprenticeship – is the right one. Only Labour backs our young people.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
The Prime Minister's target – two thirds of young people getting a degree or an apprenticeship – is the right one. Only Labour backs our young people.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform UK bigwig who went to top university says fewer others should do the same
Reform UK's former chairman calls for "fewer people going to university" after benefiting from a degree from one of the country's most prestigious ones himself
www.mirror.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Always the way, isn't it? Graduate from top uni says other people shouldn't aspire to go to university.
The Prime Minister's target – two thirds of young people getting a degree or an apprenticeship – is the right one. Only Labour backs our young people.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
The Prime Minister's target – two thirds of young people getting a degree or an apprenticeship – is the right one. Only Labour backs our young people.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Thanks to Labour South East for inviting me along to speak at their fundraiser.
The progress we’ve made in education – rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals, reviving Sure Start for a new generation, renewing our curriculum – couldn’t happen without you.
The progress we’ve made in education – rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals, reviving Sure Start for a new generation, renewing our curriculum – couldn’t happen without you.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Thanks to Labour South East for inviting me along to speak at their fundraiser.
The progress we’ve made in education – rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals, reviving Sure Start for a new generation, renewing our curriculum – couldn’t happen without you.
The progress we’ve made in education – rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals, reviving Sure Start for a new generation, renewing our curriculum – couldn’t happen without you.