Exclusive

Jess Phillips tells LBC she stands by calling Tories 'thick' amid row over politicians language

4 May 2024, 19:22

Labour MP Jess Phillips has told LBC she's "absolutely fine" with a tweet she posted calling Conservatives "thick" - amid a row about politicians' language.
Labour MP Jess Phillips has told LBC she's "absolutely fine" with a tweet she posted calling Conservatives "thick" - amid a row about politicians' language. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Labour MP Jess Phillips has told LBC she's "absolutely fine" with a tweet she posted calling Conservatives "thick" - amid a row about politicians' language.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Shadow cabinet minister Wes Streeting faced heavy criticism for his own tweet claiming a victory for London Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall would be a "win for racists, white supremacists and Islamophobes the world over".

Yesterday, a national vote projection indicated the Tories were only 9% behind Labour, and anonymous Conservative sources told a journalist they thought they could "bridge that gap in the polls".

Read More: Local elections LIVE: Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham storm to victory in London and Manchester mayoral races

Writing on Twitter, Ms Phillips said it showed the Tories were "too entitled and frankly thick":

London, UK. 10 October 2023. Jess Phillips MPspeaks during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/Empics/Alamy Live News
Labour MP Jess Phillips has told LBC she's "absolutely fine" with a tweet she posted calling Conservatives "thick" - amid a row about politicians' language. Picture: Alamy
Shadow health secretary and the MP for Ilford North, Wes Streeting
Shadow cabinet minister Wes Streeting faced heavy criticism for his own tweet claiming a victory for London Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall would be a "win for racists, white supremacists and Islamophobes the world over". Picture: Alamy

She doubled down on the comments when speaking to LBC: "I think that's it's absolutely fine to call people who are thick, thick, when they say thick things - and pretending this has been a good result.

"I don't know who's done the media training that says when faced with massive losses and swings against you, you should go out and pretend you've just won Miss World.

"It's really bizarre and the reason I think it's stupid - and they're stupid for doing it - is the public hate it.

"The public hate being treated like fools and actually, they're treating the public like they're thick.

"If they called me thick, I would just be able to prove them wrong so they've got every opportunity to do that".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Policemen guard the area as a convoy brings the suspect in shooting of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, to court in Pezinok

Man accused of trying to kill Slovak prime minister makes first court appearance

Climate activists have glued themselves to an airport runway

Chaos as climate activists glue themselves to runway of major airport, causing dozens of flight cancellations

An auto-rickshaw driver drinks water as he takes a break in New Delhi, India

New Delhi on high alert as parts of northern India scorched by extreme heat

The vicar was at St John the Baptist church in Sedlescombe

Former Church of England vicar in his 80s charged with raping boy

Donald Trump

‘Best president for gun owners’ Trump to address National Rifle Association

File photo of gunman in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan, where the shooting took place

Three Spanish tourists shot dead in Afghanistan, with at least one more injured after gunmen open fire

Smoke rises during protests in Noumea, New Caledonia

French authorities report sixth death in New Caledonia violence

Itzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk and Amit Buskila

Bodies of three hostages killed at October 7 music festival recovered in Gaza

Anne Robinson has confirmed she is in a relationship with Andrew Parker Bowles

Anne Robinson reveals secret relationship with Queen Camilla's ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles

A member of the LGBTQ+ community holds up a sign with a message that reads 'Nothing to cure', during a protest in Lima, Peru

Protests in Peru against classification of gender identities as ‘mental illness’

Girls Aloud reunited for the first time in 11 years to pay tribute to Sarah Harding

Tears for Sarah Harding: fans pay tribute as Girls Aloud reunite for first time in 11 years

Cases of cryptosporidiosis have doubled

MP says 'heads will roll' over Devon water parasite crisis, as confirmed cryptosporidium cases double

Exclusive
Vera and Dan

'Why I’m taking my security into my own hands’: Brits buy guard dogs and doorbell cameras as crime concerns soar

Yvette Fielding said that Rolf Harris sexually assaulted her

Yvette Fielding claims Rolf Harris sexually assaulted her while she was hosting Blue Peter as a teenager

Rachel Reeves has said that rent caps could be allowed to be set

Labour 'could allow rent caps', Rachel Reeves says - but shadow chancellor warned that 'landlords would leave in droves'

Justice Department Boeing Explainer

Boeing shareholders approve chief’s compensation as company faces investigations