Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has been accused of hypocrisy after calling for GB News to be “shut down”, despite multiple appearances on the channel.
In a BBC Newsnight appearance that has seen Nokes dubbed a “virtue signalling hypocrite”, the Tory MP called for The People’s Channel to be taken off air over comments made by GB News presenter Laurence Fox on Dan Wootton Tonight.
Fox made a series of remarks about political journalist Ava Evans on Tuesday evening which GB News described as "totally unacceptable". The channel has since issued an apology to Evans and suspended Fox and Wootton pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Discussing Fox's comments on the BBC, Nokes asserted that she had not been on a GB News show presented by a sitting MP and that she believed its licence should be revoked.
Caroline Nokes has appeared on GB News on nine occasions
GB NEWS
“I think there is a really serious case to answer and I hope that Ofcom can conclude its investigations as swiftly as possible”, she said.
“I think it should be taken off air, it was entirely predictable that Laurence Fox was going to come out with a statement that was offensive.”
The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee chair made the comments despite having made nine appearances on GB News, including one just ten days ago on The Live Desk with Martin Daubney and Pip Thomson.
Many took to X, formally known as Twitter, to point out the inconsistency in Nokes’ comments, including Essex publican Adam Brooks.
Posting a video of Nokes’ most recent appearance of the channel, he commented: “Oh look, it’s Caroline Nokes appearing on GB News, but suddenly because Laurence Fox makes crass comments, it should be shut down?
“You’re no Conservative, Caroline, you’re a virtue signalling hypocrite.”
Nokes later sought to clarify her remarks on social media, claiming that while she had been on the channel, she had not been on a show hosted by a sitting MP.
“Haven’t been on a single GB News show hosted by any of my colleagues," she said.
Caroline Nokes appeared on Saturday Selection on May 1 2022 with host Dehenna Davison, but now claims that she has never appeared on a GB News show with a colleague presenting.
GB NEWS
Despite the bid to reaffirm her position, Nokes had appeared on the show Saturday Selection with Dehenna Davison, who worked at the time as a GB News host as well as being a Conservative MP.
Sparking a backlash, one person took to X to say: “Even her clarification was a lie”.
Another added: “Your demonstrable lack of honesty / recall of memory / humility / self awareness, would appear to make you unsuitable to be an MP let alone a chair of a select committee. Would you agree?”
Following Tuesday night's discussion on GB News, Wootton apologised “unreservedly” for a “very unfortunate lapse in judgement”.
Fox has also since apologised saying he was "sorry for demeaning" Evans.
A statement from GB News just hours after the remarks were made on Tuesday said: “Comments made tonight on GB News by Laurence Fox were totally unacceptable.
“What he said does not reflect our values and we apologise unreservedly for the comments and the offence they have caused.
“We have launched an investigation and will be apologising to the individual involved.”