Eamonn Holmes hits out at GB News guest in fiery clash

What did you miss?

Eamonn Holmes clashed with anti-racism activist Imarn Ayton on GB News on Tuesday, telling her: “Don’t lecture me.”

Norfolk village residents have shared their concerns about plans to fly the Union flag because it is “divisive” and fear it could scare people away. GB News made this item the centre of their debate on Tuesday. But a row broke out on air with the presenter after activist Ayton and historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo finished their debate on whether the Union Jack flag is too “divisive”.

Once the debate had finished, Holmes was summing up the debate only for his words to spark an unexpected row on air with Ayton. Holmes wrapped up the segment saying: “Running a flag outside a village hall in Norfolk, you sort of think what’s the big deal.” But it wasn’t over as far as one of the guests was concerned.

What, how and why?

Unimpressed, TV guest Ayton spoke up to say she wasn’t happy with what the presenter had to say. She said: “Be considerate. No, be considerate guys.”

She went on: “I know you’ve finished your segment but Eamonn I’m not going to let you get away with that one. Be considerate of other peoples beliefs and views. If you are considerate and sympathetic of everyone and how we perceive the world, you might find yourself leading with equality. Just so you know, I’ll finish it there.”

Taken back, Holmes hit back at the TV guest and defended his summary. “Let me just tell you something,” he said. “You don’t have to lecture me.”

Ayton interjected to say: “I have to when you say things like that.”

But Holmes wasn’t convinced with the guest’s complaint. He said diplomatically: “I sit in the middle, trying to see both sides of things.”

The GB News guest interrupted him to say: ‘You should have finished with mine but you finished with Rafe’s.”

Host Holmes was unfazed though as he explained why he felt he didn’t need a lecture. He said: “I finished with everyone. I’m trying to say you did not grow up in Northern Ireland, where a flag represented something political and anti to a certain religion in northern Ireland, I did. I had to live with it.”

Ayton replied: “And just like with black people, you are not black sir and I understand racism more than you.”

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GB News debate

The debate had been pretty fiery before it ended in an argument with Holmes. Historian Heydel-Mankoo had argued it was a “depressing story” in his opinion. He said: “I don’t think it’s that divisive in this village, but a minority are trying to stoke division.”

Ayton argued back with the historian saying he wasn’t using “inclusive” language. She explained herself saying: “You started your language by not using inclusive language. You forgot about the fact we’re talking about a British flag, not an English flag. You didn’t include Ireland and Scotland.”