New Reform City Council leader launches scathing attack on Sunderland MP Bridget Phillipson
Cllr Chris Eynon has called for the education secretary Bridget Phillipson to resign if she is unwilling to work with Sunderland’s Reform led council.
Sunderland’s new Reform council leader, Councillor Chris Eynon, has launched a scathing verbal attack on Houghton and Sunderland South MP and education secretary Bridget Phillipson, just two weeks after taking up his position at City Hall.
Following Reform taking office, Mrs Phillipson has written direct letters to Cllr Eynon and posted messages on social media criticising the Reform Party for creating paid cabinet positions, changing the flag flying policy at City Hall, and highlighted alleged racist comments made by an incoming Reform Sunderland councillor.
Cllr Eynon has now taken the decision to write back to Mrs Phillipson in an open letter.
Cllr Eynon said: “On Thursday May 7 the people of Houghton and Sunderland delivered a clear verdict at the ballot box. Across the area, not a single Labour councillor was elected while Reform secured 24 of the 30 available seats in the constituency.
“The people of Sunderland have spoken. Your Government’s delivery has been shocking and your personal delivery for the people of Houghton and Sunderland South has not been much better.
“May I offer you some advice; instead of focusing your time and energy on attacking the Reform administration that has just brought an end to decades of Labour failure in Sunderland, perhaps you could focus on delivering for the residents who elected you in 2024.”
In a personal attack on Mrs Phillipson’s record, Cllr Eynon cited the “decline of Newbottle Street”, near the MP’s constituency office in Houghton-le-Spring, and criticised the Government’s policy on increasing taxation on private school fees and voting against Brexit.
He also accused the education secretary of a “minimal presence” in her constituency and “taking your working class communities for-granted”.
Responding to Cllr Eynon’s letter Mrs Phillipson referenced Reform suspending a councillor for alleged comments about Nigerians, “cocked up plans for Armed Forces Day” and the creation of “eight more paid positions to line the pockets of their councillors”.
She added: “In his first letter to me, the new council leader chose to argue about Labour’s policy of ending private schools’ tax breaks to boost state school budgets. It shows how out of touch he and his party are.
“I remain focused on delivering for working families across Sunderland – tackling the cost of living and lifting children out of poverty.”
In a post on social media, Mrs Phillipson further criticised Reform’s decision to increase the number of paid positions on the Council.
She said: “Despite promising to cut costs, our new Reform councillors have created eight more paid cabinet positions than the former Labour-run council. Reform can’t be trusted with our council and they can’t be trusted to keep their promises.”
Within his letter to the education secretary, Cllr Eynon did offer to work “constructively” with Mrs Phillipson, but also called for her resignation if she is unwilling to do so.
He said: “If you are capable of turning your attention to working constructively for the people of Sunderland rather than seeking every opportunity to attack our administration, then our door remains open. We would be more than happy to engage in meaningful discussions about how we can work together for the benefit of our city.
“If, however, you are unwilling to do so then you should do the honourable thing and resign.”