A heated exchange erupted on GB News between presenter Michelle Dewberry and Labour peer Lord George Foulkes, centering on the murder of Rhiannon Whyte. Whyte was stabbed to death by Deng Chol Majek, an asylum seeker from Sudan who entered the UK via small boat. Lord Foulkes admitted he was unaware of the case, stating he had not been briefed beforehand. Dewberry snapped back: 'Why do you need briefing to know one of the highest profile murder cases that this country has had?'
Reform UK's Zia Yusuf weighs in
Dewberry then turned to Reform UK's Zia Yusuf, who confirmed he knew of the case. Yusuf remarked: 'Of course. It was an extremely high-profile case. Her picture was over almost every newspaper in the country. Briefed or not briefed, to not know her name speaks to how out of touch, not just you, but I think you're a metaphor for the entire Labour government.'
Lord Foulkes countered by claiming he would be called 'stupid' for appearing on GB News, accusing Dewberry of constantly attacking the Labour government. He added: 'You get particular cases that you use to attack the government. You never look for anything positive.'
Dewberry defends scrutiny
An exasperated Dewberry retorted: 'I'm not having this. Lefties can't handle being scrutinised so they won't come on GB News.' The debate intensified when Lord Foulkes argued that the Labour government was 'doing very well,' citing the removal of the two-child benefit cap to reduce poverty. Dewberry hit back: 'Do you realise how unpopular that measure was? There are people watching this who work really hard and have to make decisions about whether or not to expand their family based on their finances.'
She claimed viewers would be 'shouting at their screens' over what she described as the government's decision to hand out money to families who often do not work. Lord Foulkes responded: 'They do work. Many of them do. At last you've conceded that.'
Accusations of propaganda
Dewberry then addressed Lord Foulkes's earlier claim about GB News attacking the government, saying: 'They make it very easy to attack them by doing things that are upsetting and harming people. We hold them to account. We don't shy away from it. I make no apologies to that.' Lord Foulkes accused Dewberry of 'spouting Reform propaganda,' which she denied. She then criticised him for comparing Peter Murrell's embezzlement from the SNP to Nigel Farage's 'private, consensual donation.' Dewberry fumed: 'To liken that to a criminal activity, I find that unfathomable.'
Lord Foulkes countered that Farage faces an inquiry for failing to declare a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne before becoming an MP. The exchange concluded with both sides standing firm, reflecting deep political divisions.
