UK Chancellor Pledges 15 Million Pounds to Fight Misogyny Ahead of Budget

Chancellor John Healey has promised fifteen million pounds for a fund aimed at tackling misogyny in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Funding Details

The money will be spread over three years to support programs like mentoring for young people, training at work, and campaigns to help women and girls feel safer. Healey stated on the eve of his first Budget that every woman and girl deserves to feel safe and respected. The money supports a national taskforce led by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, who stated that daily incidents of misogyny have no place in modern Britain. Officials hope the government money will also bring in extra funds from businesses and charitable donors.

Opposition Reaction

Conservative shadow women and equalities minister Joy Morrissey criticized the plan as a waste of public money that will not make women safer. Morrissey pointed to recent Office for National Statistics figures showing an estimated twelve point eight percent of females aged sixteen and over in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, sexual victimisation, or stalking in the year to March 2026. She argued the government is making taxpayers fund projects to tackle the manosphere instead of taking the crisis seriously.

Context

Government funding for social initiatives is commonly announced just before a major national budget to highlight government priorities. National taskforces are often set up to bring together experts and ministers to tackle specific social problems.