𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

BBC veteran Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce was forced to call time on a Labour MP’s blistering response to an audience member who called the EU an “old boys’ club” his family had “done well out of”.

Ms Bruce was presenting the topical debate show from the Welsh town of Brecon tonight with guests including Labour Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davies, Plaid Cymru social care deputy minister Delyth Jewell, Reform UK Welsh Senedd member James Evans and Left-wing Guardian writer George Monbiot.

During a discussion on Andy Burnham’s re-igniting of the Brexit debate, one audience member gave her views calmly to the panel, specifically to Stephen Kinnock, who is the son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnockwho went on to become Vice-President of the European Commission from 1999 until 2004.

The audience member said: “I feel tonight we’ve heard Stephen Kinnock talk about wanting to go back into the European Union, and I think that represents everything I hated about the European Union, it is a corrupt old boys’ network and Stephen Kinnock’s family have done well out of the European Union… and that’s why a lot of people don’t like it, because it’s a corrupt old boys’ club.”

Presenter Fiona Bruce told Mr Kinnock she would let him come back on the point, before heading to the rest of the panel to discuss the EU debate. Returning to Mr Kinnock, Fiona asked if “very briefly” he would like to respond.

The clearly fuming Labour MP responded: “Yes, there was a lady in the audience who made what I found a disgraceful personal slur, my father is a patriot who has dedicated his life to public service and has always stood up for what he believes in, and what he believes to be best for this country.

“You may disagree with his view, but I think it’s frankly disgraceful that you made that personal attack…”

Mr Kinnock continued as he mentioned what he thought were the woman’s personal views on Brexit, adding he thought Leave side never “set out a plan” as Reform’s James Evans looked on with bemusement.

Ms Bruce tried to intervene as Stephen carried on speaking about Brexit, saying “ok, alright”, but Mr Kinnock carried on his tirade by asking if there were any small boats in the English Channel in 2016, seemingly trying to attach the current illegal migration crisis a decade later with Brexit.

Pointing his finger angrily at the audience member, he raged: “You madam, you probably care about the small boats crossing the Channel, did we have any in 2016, the answer is ‘no’…”. Mr Kinnock went to say the reason was “collaboration” with the EU.

“That’s not the point I was making,” responded the audience member calmly.

Clearly rattled, Mr Kinnock was allowed to continue and demanded she name “a single Brexit benefit”. Answers began to come thick and fast from the audience and Mr Kinnock declared “we’re not controlling our own laws”, before Ms Bruce had to shout “wait a minute”, adding: “Is this what it’s going to be like? let’s let the women in the audience answer.”

The woman replied that the UK could produce its own farming system, she added that under the EU there was “one farming mechanism for 28 different countries, at the moment we can design our own agricultural policy”. Conservative MP Mims Davies nodded her head in support of the woman’s answer.

Mr Kinnock and the panellists descended into talking over once more before Ms Bruce had to take charge, finally bringing order after chaotic scenes.

“Everybody hang on a second, because I am going to move on to another question.”