Labour's chair, Bridget Phillipson, has accused Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch of using concerns about violence against women and girls as a political tool, claiming that the Conservative Party and Reform UK are ignoring what she calls a "national emergency" in women's safety. Speaking in an interview with The Independent, Phillipson, who is also the cabinet minister for women and equalities, criticized the two main right-wing parties for prioritizing political rivalry over taking real action to protect women. Her comments came ahead of her opening the Labour Women's Conference in Liverpool, where she also raised concerns about the rise of "ethno-nationalism" from Reform and the Conservatives, which she says is fueling a new wave of racism in the UK. Phillipson expressed concern over the situation in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, where women wrote to her about their fears over plans to relocate more than 1,000 male migrants to a nearby military base. She remains skeptical about the interest shown by Badenoch and Farage in the village's safety concerns, despite Badenoch's visit to the area. Additionally, she criticized the Conservatives and Reform for their handling of protests following an incident in Epping, where an asylum seeker was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Phillipson questioned whether these parties were genuinely committed to addressing violence against women or simply using it as a political strategy. In December, Labour announced a strategy aimed at halving violence against women within a decade, including a £550 million investment in victim support services, new rape trial courts, and a £13 million national center for violence against women and girls. However, campaigners have criticized the Starmer government for delays in implementing the plan and for insufficient funding. A source close to Badenoch called Phillipson's accusations "spiteful and absurd," arguing that the Conservatives and Reform are not apologizing for discussing the fears women have about men in changing rooms or the need to prevent male illegal immigrants from committing crimes. The source also criticized Phillipson's past as an education secretary, suggesting that she had undermined school standards. Phillipson has launched a task force to tackle misogyny and emphasized that women's safety is a national emergency, pointing out that a woman is killed by an abusive partner every five days. She also highlighted the need to address class inequality and the failure to take seriously the reports of abuse from working-class girls. In a political climate increasingly focused on divisive "culture war" issues, Phillipson has made it clear she is ready to engage in the debate, raising concerns about the rise of ethno-nationalism, a topic previously addressed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She has also criticized the new Reform council in her hometown of Sunderland for cutting funding for anti-racism programs in schools after decades of successful work. Phillipson continues to support Labour's efforts to combat misogyny and systemic violence, including a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation and a strategy to reduce violence against women. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch dismissed Phillipson's statements as an attack, defending her record on protecting single-sex spaces and addressing women's safety concerns.