Extraordinary row erupts on GB News as guest demands channel be SHUT DOWN - and brands Ben Leo 'unpatriotic and xenophobic'

Mr Kamm, 63, issued a fiery first retort.

"I admire your sense of humour," he said. "GB News, you describe yourself as Britain's News Channel - and yet you're not a news channel, you're rather a propaganda outlet.

"Judging by your tweets, you're not pro-British at all. You're unpatriotic and anti-British. When you were launched, whenever it was, I took a self-denying ordinance.

"I was invited to appear on the channel. I decided against it, not because I'm particularly fastidious, but because I wanted to make a point that I don't think a propaganda channel should be treated as some sort of reputable news outlet."

He added: "I'm here because you asked me to - and because I thought your tweet was preposterous and xenophobic."

Ben hit back: "If we're a propaganda channel, Oliver, what kind of propaganda outlet would invite its critics to come on... while you also call for the revocation of our licence?"

The GB News host then accused Mr Kamm of being "fairly obsessed with us going off-air" and pointed to social media posts in which he called for Ofcom to strip the channel of a broadcast licence.

Operating a television channel without a licence is illegal and could result in jail time.

Ben then asked: "What kind of propaganda outlet allows you, Oliver, on-air, to say we should be taken off-air?"

The Times columnist replied: "I didn't say you should be taken off-air. I said that the regulators should rescind your license. There's a clear distinction between the two."

He then drew parallels between GB News and Russia Today, which had its licence rescinded when Russia invaded Ukraine - and accused Ben of being an apologist for Vladimir Putin's regime.

"You're a propaganda outlet," Mr Kamm added. "I've always compared you to Russia Today with the caveat that you're not actually sponsored by a terrorist state.

"But in the case of GB News, you have become not just a mouthpiece, but a megaphone for a rogue regime based in in Washington DC."

The 63-year-old went on: "I'm giving you my opinion as an objective observer that GB News is not a proper outfit to hold a UK broadcast license.

"You are as much a propaganda outfit as Russia Today, with the same adherence to ethics and journalistic objectivity, and I can't help it if the regulator is falling down on its job.

"I called for Russia Today to have its licence stripped as soon as it came on air in the UK, because it obviously wasn't a proper and fit holder of that licence. And the same is true with you."

Turning his fire on Mr Trump, Mr Kamm accused Ben of "engaging in demagoguery of a peculiarly unpleasant, xenophobic character while attempting to present yourself as a defender of women's rights".

He added: "If you have a serious question, ask it. But, you know, it's the early morning here. I haven't got time for this. I could be doing something else."

Ben replied: "Well, I appreciate you being on. I will just say - you wouldn't get this on the BBC. You wouldn't get this anywhere else.

"Could you imagine the BBC inviting somebody from the 'Defund the BBC' organisation on to have a debate and a discussion about what your problem is with BBC News? It just wouldn't happen... You know that as well, Oliver."

He replied: "The BBC is a serious channel. You're just a propaganda outlet speaking for a depraved regime."