GB News panellist Benjamin Butterworth caused a stir on Patrick Christys' show on November 2 as he suddenly fled the set following a blazing migrant row with Daily Express columnist Carole Malone.
Left-wing broadcaster Butterworth joined the panel for a discussion on Shabana Mahmood's new rules on indefinite leave to remain for migrants, and things quickly escalated. Eventually, Butterworth went missing from the programme altogether.
Heated Exchange Over Migration Rules
Butterworth argued: "What I would say is, what Shabana Mahmood has done is introduce the strictest policies on this that we've had." Malone was quick to interrupt, questioning him: "What? What's different?" as host Christys interjected: "It's not what she said she was going to do, is it?"
Malone fumed: "You just heard it quoted what she said, and she's doing the opposite! Because you're talking tosh, you just heard someone quote back at her what she said!" Butterworth argued: "She is doubling the period until you're eligible for indefinite leave to remain," but Malone still wasn't satisfied as she pointed out: "For a handful of people, yeah."
Butterworth's Claims and Departure
Butterworth argued it was "for the majority", adding: "It will now take 10 years, which is among the highest in the western world." But he was told it was "tosh" by a furious Malone. He hit back: "It's not tosh. 10 years is what it will take. If you have so much as a driving ban, if you have a nominal fine for an issue, you will not be eligible for indefinite leave to remain. Any sort of criminal record, any minor offence, you're not eligible. You have to earn more than £50,000 to be eligible for it in under 10 years. If you earn over £125,000, you get fast-tracked."
Malone said: "Good! If you earn £125,000 you should be fast-tracked! We're talking about the ones who earn £25,000 a year or less, and who bring six dependants over!" Butterworth argued: "That's wrong again. They've ended the dependency rights; only if you came about a year ago were you eligible to bring in dependants."
However, by the time the topic changed, Butterworth was missing from the panel and had been replaced by Stella Tsantekidou, with Christys telling viewers: "Sorry, I just need to explain that Stella's here now, because Benjamin had to go." Stella chimed in: "Surprise, surprise!"
Apology on Social Media
After the show aired, Butterworth took to social media to apologise to viewers, writing on X: "Apologies to @PatrickChristys' viewers for disappearing from the panel tonight. Fear not, I didn't storm out. I've been out of sorts for a few days and was so dizzy by 11PM I couldn't focus on the newspapers." Well-wishers chimed in with messages for the panellist, with one quipping: "Guessed there was something wrong because you were clearly not your normal deliberately annoying, condescending self. Get well soon though!" Another said: "Hope you're okay Benjamin, look after yourself." Someone else posted: "Thought you were quiet. Get well soon."
