Patrick Christys has scolded a guest on GB News for "offending viewers" by calling them "prejudice."
This comes as the Business Secretary said diversity and inclusion initiatives are “ineffective and counterproductive”.
In a heated debate, GB News contributor Benjamin Butterworth argued the need for a prejudice and diversity scheme while social media influencer Pearl Davies claimed that we should stop punishing men for being "straight and white."
Davies argued: "I don't think we need these programmes. We're not asking for this. I don't think that you can eliminate prejudice. You can't put in a programme and eliminate prejudice.
"I just don't think we need it. I don't think I need special treatment and programmes just because I am born a woman."
He left Patrick shocked by his comments
GB News
Butterworth argued: "None of us are born hating black people, women or gay people, but some people develop those hatreds. They develop them in subtle ways and acute ways that can cause serious problems.
"I think when you talk about workplaces when you have the kind of attitude that can be prevalent and that can be subtle, that means that people of those minority descriptions can't fulfill their potential.
Davies explained: "I just think if these programmes were effective, they would be working. They're clearly not. It's a waste of time, it's a waste of money. And I don't need special treatment because I'm a woman. I think the best person for the job should get the job. There shouldn't be preferential hiring practices."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Butterworth shot back: "'I'm telling you, not long ago, in this country as in America I'm sure, you have offices where they run by old white men who have prejudiced attitudes to women, who believe that they aren't as capable.
"Don't pretend that this doesn't exist." Turning to Patrick he said: "That is most of your audience in fact."
Pearl Davies claimed that you should not be punished for being a "straight white man"
GB News
He continued: "The fact is that when you have a scenario where you have a load of people with those prejudices, then you need policies to help people develop their views."
A shocked Patrick said to him: "I' 'm going to be honest with you, I'm quite offended, and I daresay you will have offended the vast majority of people watching, that you have just called our audience prejudiced and all of that.
"I mean, that's a remarkable turn of phrase. That doesn't sound like very inclusive."
The debate revolved around a report published on Wednesday by the independent Inclusion at Work Panel, appointed by Kemi Badenoch.
The panel said many employers want “to do the right thing”, but are introducing measures without the support of evidence.
Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Badenoch said education, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives should unite rather than alienate and some “clumsy diversity drives are no substitute for proper action”.
“The new report shows that, while millions are being spent on these initiatives, many popular EDI practices – such as diversity training – have little to no tangible impact in increasing diversity or reducing prejudice,” Ms Badenoch said.
“In fact, many practices have not only been proven to be ineffective, they have also been counterproductive.
"Performative gestures such as compulsory pronouns and rainbow lanyards are often a sign that organisations are struggling to demonstrate how they are being inclusive.”
GB News, which has been targeted by a far-left advertising boycott since before it even launched, recently announced a membership scheme to allow viewers who want to support the channel to do so directly.
