Fiona Bruce was forced to intervene on BBC's Question Time as Labour MP Stephen Kinnock reacted angrily to an audience member who called the EU a "corrupt old boys' club" his family had "done well out of". The presenter was hosting the debate show from Brecon, Wales, with guests including Labour Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davies, Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell, Reform UK's James Evans, and writer George Monbiot.
Audience member's accusation
During a discussion on Andy Burnham's re-igniting of the Brexit debate, an audience member addressed Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who served as Vice-President of the European Commission from 1999 until 2004. She 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."
Ms Bruce told Mr Kinnock she would let him respond, before turning to the rest of the panel. Returning to him, she asked if "very briefly" he would like to answer.
Kinnock's furious response
The 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, mentioning what he thought were the woman's personal views on Brexit, and adding that the Leave side never "set out a plan" as Reform's James Evans looked on. Ms Bruce tried to intervene, saying "ok, alright", but Mr Kinnock carried on, asking if there were any small boats in the English Channel in 2016, seemingly linking the current illegal migration crisis to Brexit.
Chaos on the panel
Pointing 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'..." He went on to say the reason was "collaboration" with the EU. The audience member calmly replied: "That's not the point I was making."
Clearly rattled, Mr Kinnock demanded she name "a single Brexit benefit". Answers came 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, adding 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 in support. Mr Kinnock and the panellists descended into talking over one another before Ms Bruce finally took charge, saying: "Everybody hang on a second, because I am going to move on to another question."
