'Viewers are sick and tired of this bias!' BBC fury as Question Time 'plants' small-boat migrants during immigration special

On the panel was Dover and Deal MP and Migration Minister Mike Tapp, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle Dr Kieran Mullan, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper, Green Party Leader Zack Polanski and Reform UK's Head of Policy Zia Yusuf.

Mr Yusuf, Reform's Head of Policy, said the BBC selected "multiple people" who made the dangerous journey across the English Channel , a statement confirmed by host Fiona Bruce.

He wrote on social media: "There were literally multiple people who arrived in this country illegally by boat asking questions on tonight’s Question Time Immigration Special!

"The BBC asked a question of an Iranian illegal migrant in the audience. His 'question' was him reading from his phone a list of reasons why Britain should *not* withdraw from the ECHR. He even mentioned the Northern Ireland Protocol! Incredible."

Echoing his sentiment, Reform's Deputy Leader Richard Tice added: "Another BBC QT plant reminding us all why fundamental reform is needed. Viewers are sick & tired of this bias."

A BBC spokesman told GB News: "As immigration continues to be a primary concern for people in the UK, Question Time held a special episode in Dover with panellists from across the political spectrum and a local audience with a range of views and experiences.

"Over 20 audience members asked questions and contributed to the debate - including two people with direct experience of the asylum system in the UK who have been granted refugee status."

In the episode, Mr Yusuf told a small boat migrant who had been refused asylum in a host of European countries he would be deported if Mr Farage wins the next election.

Ashraf, an Afghan national who crossed the Channel, told the panel he arrived in the UK around five year ago after trying to seek sanctuary in Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Austria and Germany.

When Ms Bruce asked Mr Yusuf if migrants such as Ashraf would be deported under a Reform government, he replied: "I don’t know enough about that particular story. In terms of broad strokes, if you are entering from a war zone, it is generally women and children first and the vast majority of the people coming to this country, via the English Channel, illegally, are men."

Mr Yusuf said: "Incredibly, the BBC planted multiple illegal migrants in the audience of Question Time’s Immigration Special.

"One said his asylum application had been rejected in SIX countries and so he came to Britain by small boat. I was asked if he would be deported."

Mr Farage told a press conference earlier today he was "done with the BBC", accusing the broadcaster of "double standards" as he was pressed about allegations of racism during his schooldays.

The Reform leader said: “I cannot put up with the double standards of the BBC about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago and what you were putting out on mainstream content. So I want an apology from the BBC for virtually everything you did throughout the 1970s and 80s.”

Mr Farage’s former classmate, Peter Ettedgui, is among those who have accused him of making racist remarks to him during their school days.

Mr Ettedgui, who is Jewish, claimed that Mr Farage had “repeatedly” approached him and said “Hitler was right”, while they were pupils at Dulwich College.

The panel clashed over migration when a member of the audience asked what they would do to stop the boats, with the senior Reform UK figure calling it "unfair" on the British people.

Mr Yusuf said "just four per cent of the people who arrived here illegally under Keir Starmer's awful government have been deported" adding that: "Britain is a soft touch and what Labour has done is pour gasoline on a fire the Tories created".

However, Mr Tapp hit back, saying: "We're not a soft touch, we have seen a sweeping set of reforms to the system over the last few weeks which is the largest since the Second World War."

Mr Tapp accused Mr Yusuf of "splitting hairs" over the figures.

Meanwhile, Mr Polanski suggested British society is "feeling broken", suggesting "years of austerity" was to blame.

The Green Party Leader said: "I think we need to be really clear. This year, 800,000 people have arrived in this county.

"Out of those, 400,000 have come to study. 300,000 have come to work and they are a net contribution to our system. What we're talking about is a policy for a sustainable society."

Directly addressing the Labour minister, Mr Polanski said: "You are a government of cowards, because you won’t tell people the truth about migration. The truth about migration is it is a positive thing for this country."

"As immigration continues to be a primary concern for people in the UK, Question Time held a special episode in Dover with panellists from across the political spectrum and a local audience with a range of views and experiences. Over 20 audience members asked questions and contributed to the debate - including two people with direct experience of the asylum system in the UK who have been granted refugee status.”

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