GB News descends into blistering clash as Labour minister left squirming

GB News descended into a furious row between Labour transport secretary Heidi Alexander and presenter Camilla Tominey over the economy - and Tominey struggled to get a word in edgeways as Alexander struggled to blame Labour's problems on the previous Conservative government. Things quickly escalated into a furious row between the pair, as Tominey began with: "We've got Downing Street refusing to rule out a wealth tax. How is that going to help growth, Heidi Alexander?"

Alexander replied: "So what we saw in the first three months of this year was the British economy outperforming all other economies in the G7 which is the collection of the most advanced economies in the world. When we stood for election last year we said we would get the economy firing on all cylinders; we're not going to be able to do this overnight.

"The previous government, the Conservatives, tanked the economy over 14 years, there was stagnant growth during that time, we're not going to be able to change everything overnight but what I would say, Camilla, is the fact that we have secured £120billion of inward investment since we came into office is a sign of international capital looking at the UK as a place where they want to invest."

Attempting to interject, Tominey said: "Okay but- Hang on a minute-" but Alexander spoke over her, insisting: "Once we had done that US trade deal it is one of the, if not the most attractive places for global investors to come and set up businesses and expand their operations-"

She was forced to apologise as Camilla said: "Hang on a minute. Hang on, hang on!" Camilla then skewered the Labour secretary with a difficult question, forging ahead: "The Chancellor herself back in 2022 tweeted this: 'GDP figures see dramatic drop to 0.1% in March. We must have an emergency budget.' So last week, the economy shrunk by 0.1%, exactly the same figure that Rachel Reeves cited in 2022, calling for an emergency budget.

"So when the economy shrinks under the Conservatives, it's a national emergency, when it shrinks under Rachel Reeves everything is going swimmingly? You can't possibly convince people that the economy right now is in a good state when you've even got The Observer, which is left-leaning, saying that the economy is tanking!"

Alexander's response was: "Look, GDP figures do bump around from month to month. If you consider the overall picture of the British economy, having secured three trade deals - one with the US, one with the European Union and one with India - those are all trade deals that the previous government sought to agree [and] tried for years to get, we have come into office and we have done that."

Camilla exploded: "But the economy's not growing!"

An insistent Heidi replied: "We have the fastest growing economy of the G7 summit in the first three months of this year."

"That was before the April changes kicked in!" Camilla pointed out, as Heidi tried to say: "Look, look, we've also since the election created 400,000 jobs-" but was cut off by Camilla, who said: "Hirings are down by 270,000."

As a parting response, the MP said: "Look of course we've got more to do and we're never going to be complacent because making sure we grow the economy so we can invest in public services is the number one priority of this government."