Fiona Bruce forced to intervene as former Just Stop Oil donor skewered by BBC QT guest in Israel-Palestine row
WATCH HERE: Green entrepreneur Dale Vince says Trump talks “good game” but doubts his words
BBC
Question Time host Fiona Bruce was forced to steer the conversation back to the original topic on Thursday night's show after an audience member "hijacked" the conversation to vent his disagreements with former Just Stop Oil donor, Dale Vince.
The green energy industrialist was the target of a furious rant after he described the Palestine attacks as a "genocide," with the guest asking the 63-year-old: "How dare you say that?"
Vince, who owns the electricity company Ecotricity, was a member of the panel on the BBC political discussion show when he was called out by the disgruntled audience member, leading to a fiery clash which Bruce had to halt.
The spectator at the show, which was held this week in Greater Manchester, chimed: "Can I take issue with you over you saying that genocide has been caused in Palestine? How dare you say that?"
He went on: "Genocide happened to six million Jews in the Second World War, where is the equivalence?
"Did you mention the atrocity that happened on October 7 when Hamas and the Palestinians invaded Israel and killed innocent women and children, they bayoneted children.
Dale Vince was the subject of a furious rant
BBC
"Do you understand that? How dare you say that? You're ill-informed, my friend."
While some of the audience erupted in applause, Vince agreed about the events of October 7, 2023, but emphasised the "brutalisation of Palestine".
Bruce had to intervene initially to allow Vince to respond as the audience member continued to yell, with the former Just Stop Oil supporter commenting: "90 per cent of the Palestinian population have been displaced, there's been famine and all kinds of problems.
"Before the war, Palestinians were a captive population with no control, no access to the outside world.... They are captive in their country... You're wrong to say that is not a genocide."
The Question Time guest 'hijacked' the conversation
BBC
As the initial guest tried to double down, Bruce was forced to move the conversation along.
"I understand why you feel so strongly about it, but it is slightly hijacking the question that so many people want to talk about," she pointed out.
The 60-year-old presenter continued: "So if you'll forgive me, I will move on and get back to the original question about Donald Trump."
Bruce went on to lead a debate over newly-elected President Trump.
Businessman Vince stopped funding Just Stop Oil in 2023, arguing the ongoing protests at the time would end up being "counterproductive".
"In order to 'just stop oil', first we need to just stop the Tories," he penned in The Guardian, going on to state he'd rather focus his "time, energy and funding" into increasing the youth vote.
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Fiona Bruce had to step in during the heated interaction
BBC
Vince had supported the group since 2022, and had provided £340,000 towards the activist group.
He also supported Just Stop Oil's controversial tactics, which have seen members blocking major roads and interrupting high-profile public events.
However, he determined the government in 2023 had "made it clear that no amount of protest will sway it".
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