Oh my goodness, GB News viewers are just the best.
Well-informed and respectful, but determined to get answers on the issues that really matter.
The energy crisis, immigration, carers, pensions and grooming gangs.
Every single Government press conference would be far more illuminating if Rigby and Peston and Mason were booted out and replaced by you.
I’ve come to that conclusion after this evening’s brilliant People’s Forum, where GB News viewers and Daily Mail readers had the opportunity to quiz the Conservative leadership favourite Liz Truss in Leigh.
Brian Sheeran set the tone with this tough but fair opening gambit.
Phillip Ore wanted answers on illegal immigration question – and got Truss to make a snide dig at the French and come close to committing to overturning to ECHR.
'I would keep taxes low, get investment in, get post-Brexit reforms done and get the EU law off our statute books to help small businesses.'@TrussLiz answers the people's question on the cost-of-living & levelling up: 'What are you going to do to give Leigh what you promised?' pic.twitter.com/EEufA4lCMj
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 10, 2022
Jane Knight got Truss to commit to having the brilliant insurgent leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch in a top role in her Cabinet – and confirm that she thinks Number 10 Downing Street has become too presidential.
'I'd make the Rwanda policy work through the British Bill of Rights, ensuring we can't be overruled by the ECHR.'@TrussLiz takes questions on illegal Channel crossings and the migrant crisis: 'It is destroying lives and is a huge criminal operation that we need to stop'. pic.twitter.com/BgAdeBo49Y
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 10, 2022
Paul Eckersley’s important question on child grooming gangs got Truss to confirm police shouldn’t be patrolling Twitter and should be out on the street, while issuing an emotional response about the disgrace that went on in Rotherham and Telford.
'I will make sure the best players in the Conservative Party are on the pitch.'@TrussLiz is asked about who would be given a role in her Cabinet: 'I don't believe in micromanagement and Number 10 has become a bit too presidential'. pic.twitter.com/oPh4X1kdwW
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 10, 2022
Theo Mirfin got Truss to commit to watering down the Orwellian aspects of the Online Safety Bill.
Those were just a few of the highlights.
'The police shouldn't be spending time policing Twitter.'@TrussLiz answers the people's question on law enforcement and says she will 'hold council officers, councils and police to account' for 'enabling' the crimes of grooming gangs. pic.twitter.com/Q0yXKiM7SS
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 10, 2022
But, for me, under such tough grilling from the GB News Family, Truss came through with flying colours.
She was across her brief, warm, relaxed, but, crucially, not prepared to make promises she couldn’t keep.
And she won over the room, which included many undecided Conservative members.
In a literal straw poll – appropriate given that tonight's battleground was in that great British institution, the pub – 58 percent of audience members said before the Forum they were backing Truss for PM, while 40 were undecided.
The Straw Poll at The People's Forum
GB News
But after the grilling, the percentage of Truss backers rose to 71 percent, while only 29 percent of voters said they were undecided.
And in more bad news for the floundering Rishi Sunak, Truss managed to sway the tiny two percent of people who said they were supporting him going in.
So there you have it, according to GB News fans, Truss is a hero and Fishy Rishi is literally a zero.
