Susanna Reid slams Tory MP over Laurence Fox's gross rant at female journalist

27 September 2023 , 08:44

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Susanna Reid quizzed Lucy Frazer on Laurene Fox's comments (Image: ITV)

Susanna Reid clashed with Tory MP Lucy Frazer on Good Morning Britain as the host questioned whether the Conservative Party's deputy chairman should remain on GB News following Laurence Fox 's comments.

Laurence made a series of remarks about Ava Evans, the political correspondent for online news site Joe, during an episode of Dan Wootton Tonight on Tuesday. He referred to Ava as a "little woman" before adding: "Show me a self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that."

The GMB host asked: "GB News is the channel where your deputy chairman Lee Anderson has a show and a number of other MPs as well. What did you make of what happened?"

"Well, of course those comments were unacceptable, as you said, and GB News have apologised for that. We have a regulator that regulator is Ofcom and I'm sure that they’ll be looking into this," the culture secretary replied.

Susanna reiterated: "Do you think that Conservative MPs should be on news channels, particularly news channels, which broadcast that kind of content?"

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Susanna asked whether Tory MPs should remain on GB News (ITV)

"As I've said it was an inappropriate comment. we have a regulator Ofcom who regulates these sorts of things and there are a number of issues that a number of channels are looking into at the moment," the MP replied but Richard Madeley cut her off and accused her of "not answering the question".

When asked if serving MPs should be on news channels including GB News, the culture secretary agreed they should "because there is a broadcasting code, which identifies the rules of broadcasting and that does allow presenters who are MPs to take part in current affairs programmes".

Richard then asked if "GB News should be shut down" but the MP stated that "rule breaking" of broadcasters was a matter "for Ofcom".

Interjecting, Susanna said: "Just to make the point I'm not suggesting GB News should be shut down. What I'm asking is whether the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party should consider his position on a channel which has spoken about a female journalist in that way?"

"Well, I think I've made my position clear that those comments were inappropriate and unacceptable and I’m pleased that the channel has apologised and I know that Ofcom will be looking into this," the culture secretary quipped.

Charlotte McIntyre