Good Morning Britain turned tense on Thursday morning as hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway presided over a debate on Gary Lineker’s criticism of the government's asylum policy.
The Match of the Day host tweeted saying the language setting out the plan was 'not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s’, prompting questions over his impartiality as a BBC presenter.
Good Morning Britain hosts Kate and Ben posed the question of whether celebrity public figures should weigh in to such debates, as they spoke with broadcaster and writer Terry Christian and political commentator Dominique Samuels in the ITV studio.
As the discussion turned to the question of free speech, the atmosphere in the studio quickly turned heated as the guests began to speak over one another, prompting Dominique to label Terry ‘disingenuous’.
As they continued to speak over one another, Dominique told the co-hosts: “I’d like to respond now.”
She then continued: “At no point have I said nobody’s allowed free speech except me.
“I’ve said there’s hypocrisy and you’re being disingenuous with regard to Gary Lineker, because he is employed by the BBC.
“People have been imprisoned for not paying the BBC licence. It’s supposed to be impartial.
“That’s why there’s uproar and that’s why in private, he’s had a speaking to. Because it’s inappropriate.”
Ben then cut in to point out that Lineker is a freelance employee of the BBC, but Dominique replied saying he still has a contract with the national broadcaster.
Terry insisted he’s only a sports reporter as Dominique hit back saying: “To compare legislation that seeks to stop illegal migration to people being gassed in chambers – because that’s what 1930s Germany led to. We need to be really careful.”
Kate then cut in to ease the conversation as she said: “First of all, what Gary Lineker’s arguing is the language that led to the atrocity of the Holocaust,” as Dominique again cut in saying: “It’s not the same is it.”
Kate replied: “He is making that comparison. He’s in fact reflecting a comparison put directly to the Home Secretary by a Holocaust survivor.”
Dominique replied: “People don’t seem to understand history. 19s0s Germany came with laws that discriminated. It’s disgusting.”
As the Good Morning Britain hosts then tried to wind down the conversation to move to their next segment, Ben was forced to tell Terry: “Stop it now, stop it,” as he continued to try thrashing out the issue.
Ben then thanked the guest ahead of an awkward pause, after which Kate said: “Shall we talk about Eurovision?”
