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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ross Hunter

Neil Oliver claims Laurence Fox being subjected to a 'witch hunt'

NEIL Oliver has defended Laurence Fox after he made misogynistic remarks about a journalist and was suspended from GB News. 

During an interview with Dan Wootton on the channel on Tuesday night, the pair discussed the journalist Ava Evans – also known as Ava Santina – a political correspondent for online news site Joe.

As part of the discussion Fox asked what “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed with her” and claimed she was “spoon-fed oppression”.

He then said: “Who would want to shag that?”

GB News and Wootton have both since apologised despite the presenter appearing to laugh during the exchange.

Fox has also been suspended from GB News and has refused to apologise to Evans for his comments. 

But Oliver appeared to defend Fox on Twitter/X, claiming that he was the subject of a “witch hunt”.

He said: “I support Ava Santina's right to speak freely. I support Laurence Fox's right to speak freely.

“I support the right of everyone to speak freely.

“The policing of every word, and one witch hunt after another will be the undoing of us all.”

Fox’s comments have been widely condemned with First Minister Humza Yousaf calling him a “vile neanderthal”.

Speaking on the Jeremy Vine Show, Evans said she was “really hurt” by the comments and was shocked they had been broadcast.

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