The News Agents Jess Phillips on the battle of her political life
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Dec 19, 2025 
Jess Phillips, the Safeguarding Minister and Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, shares her powerful insights on the urgent need to combat violence against women and girls. She reveals the government's groundbreaking strategy to halve such violence and emphasizes the importance of cultural reform in institutions like the police and health services. Phillips also defends controversial plans to teach boys about misogyny amidst criticism, discusses the online safety challenges posed by influencers and AI, and reflects on her political journey through controversy and personal trials.
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Framing It As A National Emergency
- Jess Phillips framed violence against women and girls as a national emergency requiring the state's full attention.
- She argues safety for women should be treated as national security, not a peripheral issue.
Culture Change Over Paper Promises
- Phillips emphasises changing institutional culture across police, courts and health as the strategy's core.
- She criticises departments that lack specialist support for rape and domestic abuse survivors.
Make It A Cross‑Departmental Priority
- Treat violence against women as a core policy across departments, not a side issue.
- Embed responses in health, welfare and policing rather than leaving it to isolated initiatives.