Row breaks out on Steph's Packed Lunch between audience member and Tory guest

04 September 2023 , 12:01

426     0

Row breaks out on Steph's Packed Lunch between audience member and Tory guest

Steph's Packed Lunch descended into chaos on Monday after an audience member took aim at guest Sayeeda Warsi.

after being blasted over her 'upsetting' opinions on shoplifting. Joining the Channel 4 show as a guest, Sayeeda Warsi discussed wanting a 'zero tolerance policy approach' on shoplifting.

The former co-chairwoman of the Conservative Party aired her thoughts on a 'zero tolerance policy approach' on shoplifting where only those taking items over the price of £200 would be investigated by police. The £200 threshold was introduced in England and Wales in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Despite being in government at the time, and involved in decision making, Sayeeda insisted there now 'shouldn't be a limit', something one audience member branded 'quite rich'. After suffering a break-in at his business only last week, the businessman, called James, said Sayeeda's opinion was 'upsetting'.

Business owner James fired back on Steph's Packed Lunch (Channel 4)

"I find that quite upsetting actually, Sayeeda," he explained, as the daytime show was brought to a halt. "I'm sorry to say. I am impacted personally by this and a lot of people are as well, it's very hurtful. I've had thousands of pounds worth of stock stolen and for you to say something like that when you were in charge."

Tony Christie discusses dementia diagnosis after sharing fears over his memory

Sayeeda replied: "Erm, I'm not going to get into a political debate with you on this show..." Before being interrupted by James who said: "Because you lost the debate." She reiterated: "Well you know, I'm not going to get into a political debate with you on this show.

"But I do think that if we have an approach to policing and if policing says this is actually a criminal offence then we adopt a zero tolerance policy approach. It's actually your kind of business that I was talking about. Actually we should have zero tolerance approach and we shouldn’t be a limit of £200."

James clapped back: "So why did you cut the police services? You were in government, I'm sorry but you were in government and you're now attacking effectively what you did in government." Host Steph McGovern quickly stepped in and said: "We'll come back."

Reacting to the argument, viewers flocked to X, formally known as Twitter. "Yes! James spitting facts to Sayeeda," wrote one viewer. Another blasted: "Absolutely brilliant challenge from James on todays show. @SayeedaWarsi squirming in her seat as she attacked the policies her own grubby party put in place - The Tory got told."

While one fired back: "IGNORANT LEFT ALERT! James on @PackedLunchC4 appears to think he's on Question Time. Well done, @SayeedaWarsi, for not rising to the bait and not lowering yourself to his level. #StephsPackedLunch."

Harry Rutter