Tory officials have invited Labour women and equalities secretary Bridget Phillipson to visit the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, where concerns have been raised about safety amid the arrival of 1,256 male illegal migrants at a nearby camp. Shadow equalities secretary Joy Morrissey, representing the Conservatives, extended the invitation to Phillipson, who is also chair of the Labour Party, in an effort to address the issue of violence against women and girls (VAWG). However, Phillipson has rejected the offer, accusing the Conservatives of focusing on immigration issues rather than addressing the broader problem of VAWG. Morrissey cited letters from women in Piddington expressing their concerns about safety, and she also requested that Phillipson meet grooming gang victims. The issue of grooming gangs has been a national scandal, with men of Asian heritage sexually exploiting underage white girls, often in areas governed by Labour-run councils, due to fears of being labeled racist. Phillipson, who previously ran a refuge for women who were victims of domestic abuse, criticized the Conservatives and Reform for "weaponising" VAWG for political gain, stating that they are not serious about taking the necessary actions to protect women. She highlighted that a woman is killed by her partner or former partner every five days in the UK and questioned the political engagement of Tory figures like Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage on the issue. Morrissey responded by stating that Phillipson had not met the women of Piddington despite their letters and her request. She also pointed out that Phillipson had voted against a proper national inquiry into grooming gangs in 2025. However, she expressed willingness to move forward and invited Phillipson to Piddington to meet the women and discuss a response to the national crisis of VAWG. A Labour source rejected the invitation, suggesting that it highlighted the Conservatives' lack of seriousness on the issue. The source emphasized that abuse of women is a problem in every community and that Phillipson, with her background in running a refuge, would address the issue at its source rather than ignoring it.