Minister Jess Phillips says her riot comments were a ‘mistake’ after Tory criticism

The Labour minister Jess Phillips has said comments she made about the riots in Birmingham were a “mistake”, following criticism by opposition parties.

The Birmingham Yardley MP and Home Office minister had been accused by shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly of “making excuses for masked men” intimidating the media over a social media post of hers earlier this month.

Sky News reports today she told broadcasters: “Of course I would choose my words more carefully. I’m more than happy to say that when I make a mistake. Absolutely.

“I was trying to get across that this gathering of people had been manufactured by misinformation.”

It followed Reform MP Richard Tice sharing a clip of a Sky News broadcast on August 5, in which masked men approached a presenter on air, with one gesturing as though they were pulling a trigger towards the camera.

Phillips wrote on X at the time: “These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them. This misinformation was spread entirely to create this content. Don’t spread it MR Tice!”

READ MORE: Sign up to our must-read daily briefing email on all things Labour

SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour or the election – contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected]. 

SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning. 

DONATE: If you value our work, please donate to become one of our supporters here and help sustain and expand our coverage.

PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or content, email [email protected].