Political Currency Bridget Phillipson on the two-child cap, Reform, and the deputy leadership
30 snips
Dec 31, 2025 
Bridget Phillipson, a rising MP and the Secretary of State for Education, joins the discussion on pressing political topics. She debates the removal of the two-child cap versus investing in early years education and explains key challenges in special educational needs reform. Reflecting on her deputy leadership campaign, she shares insights on positioning within the Labour movement and tackling the appeal of Reform in working-class areas. Phillipson emphasizes the need for tangible results to win back voter trust and improve living standards.
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Finish Big Policies, Then Deliver
- Prioritise finishing major policy work already underway while being ready to adapt to new issues as they arise.
- Philipson plans to publish the schools white paper and focus on delivery rather than chasing new headline policies.
Lobbying For A School Rebuild
- Philipson recalls a 2011 visit to the Department for Education to lobby David Laws for a school rebuild, which later happened.
- The memory underscores her connection to local campaigning and practical delivery.
Education Progress Masks Deep Gaps
- Education improved significantly since the 1990s but large gaps remain, especially for white working-class children and those with SEND.
- Bridget Philipson argues early years and what surrounds schools (poverty, housing, mental health) now drive outcomes more than in-school tweaks.
