Chancellor John Healey’s Budget to include £15m to tackle misogyny

Chancellor John Healey’s Budget to include £15m to tackle misogyny

The upcoming Budget is set to include confirmation of a “misogyny prevention fund,” designed to support the efforts of a recently established national taskforce focused on combating misogyny. This taskforce, which was launched last month, is chaired by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson. Its purpose is to address misogynistic behavior through coordinated action.

Speaking about the fund, Healey emphasized that the money will back “practical action to tackle misogyny head-on.” He also expressed hope that the initiative will draw in further financial support from both businesses and philanthropic organizations, thereby expanding its impact. Phillipson highlighted the persistent nature of misogynistic incidents, such as sexist insults and discrimination in the workplace, stressing that these “have no place in modern Britain.”

Phillipson described the funding as a vital move toward eradicating misogyny, stating, “This funding is a critical step as we work to confine misogyny to the history books, where it belongs.” She encouraged collective responsibility, noting that “everyone, from big business to members of the public, can do their bit to stamp out misogyny and improve the lives of women and girls everywhere.” Upon launching the taskforce, the government announced its goal to ensure that policies are informed by those who are most affected by misogyny. Their initial focus will be on the experiences of young people, with future meetings addressing issues in workplaces, digital environments, and social cohesion.

Recent statistics released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that around 12.8% of females aged 16 and over in England and Wales—approximately 3.2 million women—encountered at least one instance of domestic abuse, sexual victimisation, or stalking during the year up to March 2026. In comparison, the estimated figure for males was lower, at 8.9%, equating to about 2.1 million individuals. Criticizing the announcement, Conservative spokesperson Morrissey referenced these statistics, arguing that Labour is not genuinely committed to tackling violence against women and girls. She claimed, “Labour simply aren’t serious about tackling the crisis of violence against women and girls. This week it seems they will get the hard-pressed British taxpayer to fork out £15m to fund projects to tackle the ‘manosphere’.

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