Channel 5 Vine viewers 'switch off' as Polanksi and Malone row explodes over Green leader's 'Nazi' Reform UK remark

In one particular instance, Mr Polanski called Reform UK's Head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Zia Yusuf, "fascist" during a fiery row on the BBC's Newsnight.

He defended his use of language during the debate with Ms Malone, while Jeremy Vine oversaw the discussion on his eponymous talk show.

"Is it true that you would charge women to hypnotise them to make their breasts bigger?" Mr Vine asked as he kicked off the debate between the two after watching a clip of Mr Yusuf and the Green Party leader on Newsnight.

Mr Polanski replied: "No, it’s absolutely not true, and he [Mr Yusuf] shouldn’t have said that live on TV. What is true is that some journalist approached me 13 years ago—12, 13 years ago—and said, 'Would I do some work around body image? I said, 'Sure.'

"She then said, 'Can you do this ridiculous thing?' I said, 'Absolutely not.' She said, 'Would you be willing to try it as an experiment for The Sun?' Here’s my mistake: if someone says they work for The Sun and they’re a journalist, both those things can’t be true. Yes, it was her idea, and she said she worked for The Sun."

Ms Malone cut in: "Well, why would you do it? You’re a smart man. Did you not see the trap?"

Defending himself, Mr Polanski pointed out: "Because I wasn’t a politician. And I said back, 'If you make it' — wait, wait, wait, let me finish."

Ms Malone interrupted: "I’ve heard you use this excuse before in dismissing that. It’s right that he brought that up.

"Because I asked you before we went on air, the various jobs you’ve done. That is an excuse. You did it, nonetheless. You were asked to do it, and you tried it."

Mr Polanski continued: "So if you’d let me finish: I said, 'As long as you make it clear it’s not something I charge for, it’s not a service I do, and this is your idea.' She didn’t do that.

"I then went out the next day on BBC Radio and said, 'This doesn’t represent me.' This was way before I was involved in politics. I made a mistake, and I own that.

"But I think we are more than one mistake. And actually, my favourite politician, Tony Benn, used to say, 'I don’t care where you’re coming from. I care where you’re going.'

"And actually, what I now have is a history and a record of years in politics where I’ve stood up for marginalised communities. I’ve spoken out on women’s rights. I’ve spoken out for body control-"

Mr Vine then cut in to put Mr Polanski on the spot: "Was it right to say, on that show, the bit of a clip before we showed it, was you saying to Zia Yusuf, 'You’re a fascist?'"

Mr Polanski replied: "Well, the reason why we’re surging in the polls, and the reason why we’re getting so many members, is because if something walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I’ll call it a duck.

"And actually, Nigel Farage, when he worked in the European Parliament, used to join forces with the Swedish Democrats. These are literally a Nazi party with roots in the far-right."

A disgusted Ms Malone interjected: "How dare you throw words like 'Nazi' around? Do you even know what that means?

"People like you are just going to get Reform more votes by talking like that. You know, you believe in your politics, and Reform believes in theirs. And you cannot call them Nazis for believing in that. Because you just make yourself look cheap."

Mr Polanski refused to budge: "Well, rather than the far-right, I think we should focus on the people who want to deport people of colour, who want to extend indefinite leave to remain."

"They want to deport people who come here illegally. It’s not about their colour!" Ms Malone protested, to which Mr Polanski hit back: "How do you expect people to come here legally if there’s no safe and legal route?"

"There are safe and legal routes," Ms Malone pointed out. "The people who are coming on those boats are choosing to do it that way."

"Well, you're not a fascist, but you're absurd," Mr Polanski replied, to which a furious Ms Malone fired back: "You would like to call me a fascist if I don’t agree with you."

Attempting to bring some calm to the clash, Mr Vine put to Mr Polanski: "Did you not see the Farage case where a guy says, 'I’m going to kill Nigel Farage, shoot him,' and he’s got a jail sentence. But when he comes out, he’s probably going to stay here."

"Totally unacceptable," Mr Polanski said regarding the behaviour of the criminal, before adding: "That’s a completely different question."

Mr Vine asked: "Why should he be allowed to apply for asylum here when he’s threatened to kill Nigel Farage?"

"I think if people break the law, that’s a different conversation. The conversation I’m having with Carol is about people who have done absolutely nothing wrong — they’re fleeing war and persecution," Mr Polanski said as he skirted past Mr Vine's probe.

"They’re not fleeing war and persecution," Ms Malone butted in, to which Mr Polanski asked: "Why would you get on a small boat unless that was the case?"

"Stats say that 80 percent are not fleeing war and persecution. Stop peddling another lie," Ms Malone pressed, to which Mr Polanski conceded: "Well, over 80 percent have a legitimate claim to seek asylum here."

"That’s not the same as what you just said," Ms Malone highlighted. "You said that people are fleeing war and persecution."

She added: "The legitimate claim is what their lawyers tell them to say when they come across on the boat. You know that. We all know that. Stop pretending that they’re all fleeing war."

Mr Polanski rounded off the clash by saying: "Okay. I mean, this is the absurdity of this anti-immigration argument. This is cliché, and I think it’s really destructive and divisive for our communities — and for the people who need our support the most."

"You are spouting clichés," Ms Malone fired back, to which Mr Polanski insisted: "No, I’m talking the truth, Carol."

The clash between the pair sparked an almighty reaction on social media, with some X users even abandoning watching the debate.

Taking aim at Mr Polanski's performance, one X user hit out in response to the clash: "Thousands joining the Greens only goes to show how low this country has sunk in common sense."

"It's the looney b**b whisperer. How can he be taken seriously?" a second asked before a third weighed in: "I have had to turn it off... It's like a blood bath with that Green Party man on..... He is absolutely deluded about everything!!"

A fourth also stuck up for Ms Malone: "Obscure. Colour has zero to do with it. Carol is right in that respect. And that just shows his ignorance of what is happening."

However, others took issue with Ms Malone's conduct in the debate. "Just joined the Green Party at 70. Malone is absurd! Emotions rule," another argued.

"Oh no, it’s the Carole Malone show. Glad I’m busy this morning and unable to watch," a fifth weighed in before a sixth put: "Discuss? @thecarolemalone doesn’t discuss, she just shouts louder over the top of everyone else."

And others reserved their criticism for Mr Vine: "Can the chair moderate properly so that people, when asked a question, are given the space to answer and not shrieked down?"

"Vine's bias is so obvious. Time for a new presenter," an eighth added to the online discussion. (sic)