Michelle Dewberry repeatedly pressed Armed Forces Minister Alistair Carns on whether channel crossings "pose national security risks" during a heated GB News exchange.
The presenter asked four times whether the daily arrival of "unvetted, military age men pouring into this country" across the channel constituted a threat to national security.
Carns deflected the initial question by discussing government defence spending policies. When Michelle persisted with her inquiry, stating "That's very interesting, but that's not my question, though, is it?", the minister continued to avoid giving a direct answer.
After the third attempt to secure a clear response, Dewberry declared in frustration: "I'll try for a fourth time."
Carns deflected the initial question by discussing government defence spending policies
GB NEWS
Carns deflected the first question by discussing moving taxpayer money from overseas development into UK defence industry jobs.
"So what I would say and this is really interesting. So if we again step back a little bit, you know, what is this.
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The minister emphasised this approach as "the most critical part when we try and look at different parts of government" - taking money "that was once going overseas to other countries, to actually putting it back into the taxpaying person's pocket by providing them" jobs.
The second attempt saw Carns acknowledge the military complexity of channel crossings, drawing on his previous experience.
"Yes, I've had this question before. Interestingly, in the military, several years ago, I worked on some of the potential military solutions for cross border cross channel crossings, and it's just not as simple. The solution is not as simple as some people think it is," he said.
The minister emphasised that addressing the issue required "a multifaceted approach that requires a diplomatic engagement with Europe and France in particular".
He stressed the need for "stiff regulations and rules about individuals coming into the country to ensure that we keep both Britain safe, but also make sure that migration in the right way is positively enhanced to ensure that our country is in a good place".
The third question met with another evasive response, with Carns stating: "So I think any illegal entry into the UK is illegal and should be stopped."
This prompted Michelle's exasperated response as she declared: "That's not my question. I'll try for a fourth time. Do you think that these channel crossings are a risk to national security?"
Michelle asked the same question four times
GB NEWS
The heated exchange came as record numbers of migrants crossed the channel over the weekend, with 1,194 arrivals on Saturday alone.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the Government's response to the crossings, stating: "Nobody should be making that journey across the channel and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't."
Speaking in Glasgow on Monday, Starmer said the UK was "working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France" and providing "enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the Borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament."
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