Trevor Phillips didn’t hold back on Sky News, accusing Labour of being just as scandal-ridden as the Conservatives. In a tense exchange with Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Phillips delivered a scathing review of Labour’s turbulent first months in government.
“Tawdry and Chaotic” Start for Labour
Phillips laid into Labour, pointing out the irony of a party that spent years criticising Tory scandals now finding itself mired in controversy. The list of Labour embarrassments included:
- Transport secretary Louise Haigh’s resignation after it was revealed she pleaded guilty to fraud in 2014.
- Allegations of Lord Alli buying suits and glasses for Keir Starmer and his wife before receiving a Downing Street security pass.
- The abrupt sacking of Sue Gray as chief of staff after just six months.
“You spent four years in opposition never missing a chance to criticise Tory morality and chaos,” Phillips said. “You promised change. Instead, we’ve had Taylor Swift tickets, designer suits, glasses, No.10 passes, and your chief of staff gone in six months. It all makes you look just as tawdry and chaotic as your predecessors, doesn’t it?”
McFadden Defends Labour’s Record
McFadden didn’t take the criticism lying down, rejecting Phillips’ claim that Labour is no better than the Tories. He pointed to the quick handling of Haigh’s resignation as evidence of Labour’s higher standards.
“This Louise Haigh situation came to light and was dealt with very quickly,” McFadden said. “Louise decided to resign by the end of the day. Within 24 hours, we had a new transport secretary. This didn’t drag on for weeks or lead to endless headlines. The parallel you’re trying to draw doesn’t work.”
He went on to argue that Labour’s response shows a clear contrast with how the Conservatives handled their scandals. “People will do things wrong, and these things will come to light. It’s how you deal with them that matters,” he added.
A Rocky Start for Labour
While McFadden tried to draw a line under the recent dramas, the perception of Labour stumbling out of the gate is hard to ignore. After campaigning on a promise of cleaner governance and higher standards, the “Taylor Swift tickets and designer glasses” era isn’t quite the fresh start voters were hoping for.
Whether Labour can shake off its rocky beginning and avoid being labelled as “Tory-lite” remains to be seen, but if Trevor Phillips’ grilling is anything to go by, the honeymoon period is well and truly over.
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