QUESTION Time host Fiona Bruce has come under fire again as she was criticised for consistently interrupting non-Tory politicians on the panel show.
The SNP’s Kirsty Blackman was cut off by Bruce when she was making points about Scotland not being able to borrow money as the UK Government can, before moving on to suggest this would be one of the benefits of independence.
But Bruce interrupted her twice as Blackman tried to state her case to Tory Brexiteer MP Graham Stuart.
Blackman said: “Graham was talking about borrowing. The thing is the Scottish Government can’t borrow in the same way as the UK Government. We’ve got a legal responsibility to have a balanced budget on an annual basis, we can’t do it.”
Bruce then cut her off and began looking for the next question in the audience.
Blackman attempted to continue by saying: “You know what, it would be great if we were an independent country and we could do this and we would make our own decisions.”
Bruce can be heard saying over the top of her: “Oh, alright, okay, let’s hear a bit more from the audience.”
Fiona Bruce doing what she does best. Cutting non Tories off, patronising and ignorant.#bbcqt pic.twitter.com/ZrKI8MNmLw
— AA Kilburn (@jimbobby1970) March 2, 2023
Prior to this, Blackman had argued the Tory UK Government should be continuing its subsidy on energy bills given it has a “spare” £15 billion from an underspend due to a reduction in wholesale prices.
Stuart, who served in Liz Truss’ cabinet, replied: “The Government is borrowing money so when Kirsty talks about spare money, it isn’t spare money. This is all money that will be in future taxes on people.
“We’ve said we will keep it under review.”
Bruce was accused of being biased on social media throughout the show and some were unhappy she interrupted Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds early on too.
My goodness how condescending is Fiona Bruce on #questiontime
— Sorcha (@irish_lassie27) March 2, 2023
She was branded “condescending” while many accused her of giving GB News’s Tom Harwood too much airtime to “preach his right-wing garbage”.
After Rishi Sunak struck a deal with the EU this week on the Northern Ireland Protocol, the show came from Sunderland – the first area to vote Leave in the 2016 referendum.
However, the first question came from Leave-voting audience member who said the Brexit process had been a “complete mess” from the beginning and would change his vote if he could.
First sentence Jonathan Reynold's uttered and Fiona Bruce cuts him off to undermine him and tell him 'we've all been making bets as to how quickly you would say this'. What a welcome. Fiona Bruce is a Tory CNT. #questiontime
— Clem Ffandango (@PeterGrayArts) March 3, 2023
He said: “It’s been a complete mess from the beginning. The economic downturn is very clearly related to the EU and even the Prime Minister by his words believes that. Somewhere along the line they’ve completely lied, they’ve sold us the wrong thing.
“If it was to go again [another referendum], I’m likely to change my vote.”
Sunak had described Northern Ireland as the “world’s most exciting economic zone” with it now having access to bother the EU and UK markets under the new deal.
Critics have been swift to point out the entire UK had full access to the EU’s single market before Brexit and Scots have felt particularly aggrieved by Northern Ireland’s special treatment given Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU.
SNP MP John Nicolson argued on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night this week that Scotland is the only country in the UK that hasn’t got what it wanted.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
