Michelle Dewberry was embroiled in a tense row on GB News with guest and ex-Jeremy Corbyn adviser James Schneider over his claim that the People’s Channel has helped stoke tension in Britain.
Schneider pointed to the riots gripping Britain in the wake of three young girls being murdered in Southport.
He said media institutions like GB News have to take some responsibility for the furore, with the protesters making clear their anti-immigration stance.
He was quickly shut down by Dewbs and pollster Matt Goodwin, who argued GB News is aiding all viewpoints.
Michelle Dewberry clashed with James Schneider
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“The media, including GB News are part of what has created this moment”, he said.
“Come off it. What are you talking about?”, Dewbs fumed, before Goodwin added: “I would argue GB News has minimised the tension.”
Schneider continued: “I think the demonisation of migrants, the playing into performative cruelty against them has consequences.
“The way in which stories are presented, the way in which migrants are dehumanised, on GB News and other media outlets, contributes to it.
“As does things that politicians say, like Suella Braverman. You see politicians chasing the tabloid headlines, it’s now adapted.”
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Dewbs launched a passionate defence of The People’s Channel, saying she “categorically denies” it is responsible for what Schneider claimed.
Matt Goodwin hit back at James Schneider
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“I think that we address issues that matter to people that traditionally media outlets turn a blind eye to”, she said.
“They don’t want the controversy or backlash that has come from other parts of the media.
“I find it really interesting that so many people are keen to point the finger to social media or the media but not look at why people might not want a migrant hotel at the end of their road.
“People hear stories about 70-year-old men walking their dogs innocently being hacked to death by someone from a foreign country shouting ‘this is for Gaza’, do people not think those kind of things might be driving some of the sentiments?
People protest in Sunderland city centrePA“I find it fascinating that the blame gets pointed everywhere else because people don’t want to be really honest about what is going on in our society.”
Goodwin added: “People don’t like GB News because it gives voice to the people they don’t like.”
The Government has pointed the finger at social media for driving some of the chaos currently being witnessed on the streets of Britain.
He issued a warning to anyone whipping up violence online as the Technology Secretary said social media companies providing “a platform for this hate” must go further in tackling it.
Downing Street also criticised X owner Elon Musk for claiming “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, with officials suggesting online misinformation fuelling disorder on Britain’s streets may be being amplified by foreign state actors.