GB News presenter Alexander Armstrong was forced to intervene during a live broadcast on Sunday, June 28, after a panellist launched a furious tirade at a guest, calling him an "arrogant leftie t**t". The outburst occurred during a debate on the potential reopening of thousands of grooming gang cases in London.
Grooming Gang Audit Reveals Thousands of Potential Cases
The heated exchange followed a report from The Telegraph on Saturday, June 27, revealing that Scotland Yard has identified more than 4,000 grooming gang cases that may need to be reinvestigated. The Metropolitan Police has been conducting an extensive audit of group-based sexual abuse in London, dating back to 2010, after concerns that victims had been denied justice. Over 12,000 alleged incidents were reported to the Met during the review period, with a third of these cases potentially requiring reopening.
This development comes despite London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan previously stating there was "no indication" grooming gangs were operating in the capital. The mayor's comments have drawn criticism from victims' advocates and political commentators.
Armstrong's Show Explores the Controversy
Host Alexander Armstrong discussed the latest findings with his panellists: broadcaster Adam Brooks, former Lib Dem leader Sebastian Salek, and political commentator Emily Hewertson. Before opening the floor, Armstrong played a clip of Mayor Khan repeatedly refusing to discuss the scale of the problem during his appearance before the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in January 2025.
Armstrong asked the panel whether the Met grooming cases should be reopened 15 years after the scandal first emerged. The question quickly ignited a fierce argument between Brooks and Salek.
Brooks Unleashes on Salek
Brooks, visibly angered, shouted at Salek: "I've got a problem with rape and grooming gangs. I don't have a problem with Muslims, I have Muslim friends. How dare you say that." Salek, a Labour councillor, responded in shock: "Did you just say that?" Brooks retorted: "Yes, I did say that because I have got some. You are one arrogant leftie t**t, I've got to say, for saying I'm against liberals live on air."
Armstrong immediately cut off the exchange and turned to Hewertson for her thoughts on the clip of Mayor Khan. She agreed with Brooks, calling the mayor "a terrible person."
Hewertson Condemns Khan
Hewertson stated: "I agree that he is a terrible mayor, but I think, based on that clip, I'm inclined to believe that he is a terrible person. I think it is an absolute insult to the victims to keep asking. Susan Hall asked him nine times about grooming gangs. It's insulting that he pretended not to know the definition of grooming gangs. It's insulting to try and move the conversation on to county line victims, which is obviously important, but it's a very different issue from what Susan Hall was asking. And it's insulting to pretend that this isn't an issue that has affected London. How can it be so prevalent in every other city in the UK, but somehow London, the crime capital, is exempt? It's just insulting."
She added: "If you've read Rupert Lowe's victims' report into the inquiry into the grooming gangs, you'll read the testimonies, and you will see how the police and the authorities failed these victims, and Sadiq Khan is doing the exact same."
Viewers React to the Outburst
Fans quickly took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their reactions. One user wrote: "I saw it and loved it, great wording from Adam. Salek is a typical lefty politician who never answers questions correctly, only defers to other things." Another said: "Thanks for calling him out! This man evades, condescends and misdirects to pursue his false narrative. Well done, Adam!" A third commented: "As far as I'm concerned, Adam Brookes is speaking for the majority of far-right-minded people."
Other viewers called out Khan's evasive comments. One fumed: "At some point, evidence of Khan's corruption has got to come out." Another echoed: "I believe, against my generally open and compassionate mind, that he needs to apologise." However, a third questioned: "It's Khan's party that has set up a proper inquiry. Boris Johnson was Mayor of London in 2008-2016. Should he come under scrutiny too?"
