Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has been criticised by a senior Conservative figure and called "stupid" after she suggested that racism and sexism were once considered "normal" in Britain. The remark has drawn sharp political pushback, with critics arguing it misrepresents the country's history and reflects poorly on a senior Labour minister's judgement.

The available article content is limited to the headline and surrounding Daily Mail site navigation, so further specifics of Phillipson's original comments and the Tory politician's full response are not detailed here. The row adds to ongoing friction between the Labour government and Conservative critics over rhetoric on national identity and social attitudes.