GB News presenter Stephen Dixon has hit back with a five-word remark to defend his political view after a viewer accused him of 'sticking up for Andy Burnham'. The TV presenter was joined by co-host Anne Diamond to discuss Andy Burnham, who is set to become Prime Minister on Monday.
Viewer Accusation Sparks Defence
During the Saturday programme, they encouraged viewers to share their thoughts via social media. While reading the comments, Stephen paused the discussion, saying: 'Someone else just messaged here saying, Stephen keep sticking up for Burnham because he's from the north.' He frowned and quickly defended himself: 'No I'm not. I mean, it's what I've said in the past is, he's a very nice man. For those who have remembered, we've interviewed loads and loads over the years, he's a nice man.'
Burnham's Path to Prime Minister
Andy Burnham is expected to become Prime Minister on Monday, taking Keir Starmer's place once he departs. He will be asked to form a government by the King and officially become PM, then travel from the palace to his new address at No 10 Downing Street to deliver his first speech. Stephen commented on Burnham's speech at the Trades Union Congress headquarters in central London on Friday, where the PM-in-waiting listed five things he would do to make Labour 'better'. Burnham stated he sought to give the north of England 'the strongest voice I could' and now wants to do 'the same for everywhere'.
Dixon's Criticism of the Process
The GB News anchor said: 'But as I kept saying, that's not enough. You can't just get the job because you're a nice man, and what are you going to do with the country? There are lots of nice people and that doesn't mean I agree. I've ever known a situation like I know we changed Prime Ministers and it can be having midterm and all the rest of it. But to do it this way, with no scrutiny, no policy and no ties to the last manifesto, I've never known anything like it. Seems extraordinary, it just doesn't feel very democratic.'
Anne Diamond Agrees
Anne interjected and agreed with Stephen's opinion, explaining: 'Every time when we talk about him as the king of the North, look at what he did for Manchester, we get equal amounts of people writing in saying, Hang on a minute, I live in Manchester and I am not impressed, and yet he has become Prime Minister on the back of simply winning the Makefield by-election.'
Dixon's Northern Pride
According to the GB News website, Stephen mentioned in his biography: 'I'm a proud northerner, something which wasn't always easy to say. In this business, being a northerner used to be looked down on - not part of the elite. Thankfully at GB News it's a part of me that is celebrated. Working class, northern, just an ordinary bloke. It's a great feeling to be respected for being me.'
