Labour Minister Takes Aim At Andrew Tate As Government Unveils Anti-Misogyny Plan

A Labour minister has hit out at the influence of Andrew Tate on young men as the government unveiled its long-awaited strategy to halve violence against women and girls.

Jess Phillips said she was concerned that many were turning to the controversial online influencer for answers even though he did not have their best interests at heart.

Under the new strategy, £20 million will be spent to provide teachers with specialist training to talk to pupils about issues such as consent.

Children who show harm towards parents, siblings or in relationships will be signed up to behaviour change programmes.

Secondary school children as young as 11, mainly boys, could also be sent on the anti-misogyny training courses if they exhibit concerning behaviour,

According to research, four out of ten young men hold a positive view of sexist commentators such as Tate.

He and his his brother Tristan were previously charged with rape, having sex with a minor, human trafficking and money laundering, accusations which they deny.

On Sky News’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Phillips said the average age of perpetrators of violence against women is dropping.

The minister for violence against women and girls said one of the reasons for that was young men’s exposure to content produced by creators like Tate.

Phillips said: “You talk about Andrew Tate. When the MeToo movement started, or when Sarah Everard was killed and we talked about the kind of safety techniques we had to take and the abuses that we suffered, nobody was contextualising that for the young men in the country.

“So they went online and they found somebody who was, and he didn’t have their best interests at heart.

“We have got to talk to young men about the things that they are seeing.”

Measures already announced as part of the strategy have included introducing specialist rape and sexual offences investigators to every police force and a £19 million funding boost for councils to provide safe housing for domestic abuse survivors.

Keir Starmer said: “Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships.

“But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.

“This Government is stepping in sooner – backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear – to stop harm before it starts.

“This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”