'Don't change the subject!' Labour MP skewered for attempting to dodge Rhiannon Whyte grilling

'Don't change the subject!' Labour MP skewered for attempting to dodge Rhiannon Whyte grilling

WATCH NOW: Dawn Neesom grills Health Minister Karin Smyth MP on Rhiannon Whyte

|

GB NEWS

Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 03/02/2026

- 10:15

Rhiannon's mother Siobhan told GB News that no Labour or Tory figures have reached out to her

GB News host Dawn Neesom has handed Labour MP Karin Smyth a scathing grilling after trying to divert discussion away from the case of Rhiannon Whyte.

Questioned by Dawn on why the Government has made "no contact" with Rhiannon's mother Siobhan, Ms Smyth argued she was appearing on the People's Channel to "discuss her plan for travel costs for children with cancer".


Speaking exclusively to the People's Channel on Monday, Rhiannon's mother Siobhan, revealed only one political figure has reached out to her, but no one from the Labour Government.

Ms Whyte explained: "I would love to meet Keir Starmer face to face. The only person politically that has reached out is Darren Grimes.

"I know a lot of people don't like him, but I don't care. He's been respectful towards my family, he's been respectful to me. But political-wise, not one single person has reached out officially, not one person."

Asked by Dawn why no one from Labour has contacted Ms Whyte since Rhiannon was murdered, Ms Smyth told GB News: "I'm not aware of that particular shocking and terrible example. Violence against women and girls is a central plank of what the Prime Minister personally is leading work against.

"We launched our plan on that before Christmas, and it's something that the Prime Minister led very strongly as a member, when he led the Director of Public Prosecutions and before he was a member of Parliament."

She said: "His personal commitment to this agenda, I think, is very clear. He has met many, many victims, he's prosecuted many perpetrators, and he's continued that work with my colleague Jess Phillips in Government.

Dawn Neesom, Karin Smyth

Dawn Neesom has grilled MP Karin Smyth after attempting to 'change the subject' away from Rhiannon Whyte

|

GB NEWS

"I can't comment on that specific example and relationship, I'm afraid I haven't heard of that one, but protection of women and girls against perpetrators, making sure that we support them through the system, having people in police forces across the country to take those allegations seriously is all what we formally announced before Christmas, and it's a central plank of what this Government will do to protect women and girls from those violent men."

Dawn hit back: "Karin, I'm a little bit surprised you're not aware of this case - the person who murdered Rhiannon was sentenced to life in prison just on Friday.

"It was a horrific incident, it's been in all the newspapers, she was murdered by an illegal migrant."

Attempting to dodge Dawn's questioning, the Labour MP responded: "I'm sorry, I'm not aware of the contact directly with the Government."

Siobhan WhyteSiobhan Whyte broke down in tears as she told GB News she and Rhiannon's family will 'never know why' her daughter was murdered | GB NEWS

Dawn interjected, stating: "She's [Siobhan Whyte] had no contact. Why has no one not contacted her?"

Avoiding the confrontation again, Ms Smyth told GB News: "Obviously I'm here to talk about the cancer plan for children..."

Frustrated by the Labour MP's response, Dawn told Ms Smyth: "No, please don't change the subject. This is so important to our viewers.

"What are the Government going to do about these illegal migrants coming into this country and murdering young women? What are you going to do about it?"

Karin Smyth

Ms Smyth told GB News that 'any murder is shocking'

|

GB NEWS

Me Smyth assured GB News viewers: "Anyone who is involved in violence against women and girls, and certainly anyone who's involved in murder, and as we know, most of our attacks, are by men that are known to us.

"That is the central policy around trying to protect women and girls in our strategy. Of course, any murder is shocking, and we must prevent that."

In a statement, a Home Office spokesman told GB News: "The murder of Rhiannon Whyte was an abhorrent crime, and our thoughts are with her loved ones.

"This vile criminal is behind bars where he belongs, and he has rightly received the strictest punishment of a life sentence.

"We share the public’s anger about the broken asylum system and hotels, that is precisely why we are doing everything we can to keep dangerous offenders out of the country and close down hotels."

More From GB News