Conservative Peer Lord Shaun Bailey has launched a staunch defence of Rishi Sunak as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister to apologise for comments made during Prime Minister's Questions.
During the session on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak took aim at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for repeatedly "breaking promises" and making U-turns on several policies.
The controversial exchange came after Starmer accused Sunak of being a "blocker" on deals to end the ongoing doctor strikes.
Starmer told the Commons: "What exactly did he mean when he said it is on him personally if he doesn’t meet his promise?"
Shaun Bailey has defended the Prime Minister after making a transgender joke during PMQs
PA / GB News
Sunak hit back at the Labour leader and made a comment related to transgender people.
He said: "I think I have counted almost 30 [U-turns] in the last year. Pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman, although in fairness that was only 99 per cent of a U-turn."
Tory MPs burst into laughter as Keir Starmer appeared furious at the remarks. Starmer condemned the joke made by the Prime Minister and reminded the Tory leader that Brianna Ghey's mother, Esther, was watching the session from the public gallery after the murder of her transgender teenage daughter, Brianna Ghey.
Starmer scolded Sunak: "Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna [Ghey]'s mother is in this chamber. Shame. Parading as a man of integrity, when he's got absolutely no responsibility."
Sunak has since refused to apologise for the remark. When asked about it on Thursday, he said it was "sad and wrong" to associate his comments with Brianna's case.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Keir Starmer he 'can't define what a woman is' during Wednesday's session
PA
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Speaking in defence of the Prime Minister, Lord Bailey said Sunak had "stamped on a rake" in making the comment during that particular PMQs session, and had he said it "any other week, it would have worked well".
Lord Bailey told GB News: "If I was Rishi, I'd never apologise to Keir Starmer. I would take the time and go and see the mother, but I would not apologise because he never said anything about it.
"He talked to Keir Starmer about his actions. He didn't comment on the family and the very horrific situation."
Lord Bailey also accused the left of "framing Rishi Sunak as a bad man" and using "any opportunity" for Sunak to apologise for comments made on the issue.
Shaun Bailey says Rishi Sunak 'should never apologise' to Keir Starmer
GB News
Lord Bailey further criticised the left and the Labour Party for using the "ammo" given by Sunak's comments to politicise Brianna Ghey's case.
Lord Bailey added: "Rishi knows if there's one thing about the Labour Party, they campaign aggressively and the left wing press do personal attacks on a level that the rest of the world cannot compete with.
"The left wing press are superb at it, it is their stock and trade. I mean, just ask JK Rowling, she'll tell you."
Host Pip Tomson shared her thoughts on the comments, arguing: "I noticed that there was a number of MPs who reacted to it that couldn't get the surname correct of the family, and they kept saying 'Brianna Gray' - it's Brianna Ghey.
"And I found that very disrespectful, when you're talking about a family going through so much, a girl was murdered and you cannot even say her name correctly."