Question Time was thrown into chaos last night as protesters disrupted filming at the end of the BBC show. Host Fiona Bruce was forced to deliver her closing monologue over sirens and loud disturbance as protesters at the University of Reading where the episode was being filmed attempted to drown her out.
The show focussed on Labour’s proposed cuts to welfare, the UK’s relationship with the US and the war in Ukraine but it will perhaps be remembered for events as Bruce brought the programme to a close. She said: “And that is a lovely note to end on. My goodness, my goodness. I just before we go, I didn’t.
“We can all hear in here. If you can hear, Oh, there’s a protest going on outside. I’m not sure what it is lots of sirens.
“But anyway. Anyway, that’s it. Our time is up. Thank you very much to the panel. Thank you to our audience here in Reading. Lovely to see you and have all your contributions.”
The show was dominated by Labor’s proposed transformation of the welfare system which could make it more difficult for people in receipt of disability benefits to access help.
Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was Labour’s representative and he came in for some strong words from irate audience members.
One exclaimed: “Where’s this extra money coming from?
He says about people not working, in sickness, they need to be helped to get back into work. It’s not just about coaching somebody back into work – which will also cost you a lot of money, so I don’t know where that’s coming from – people need to have surgeries!”
She added: “There needs to be doctors who are going to do these surgeries, or see people and get it done”.
The MP attempted to defend the government’s position, after they were accused of failing to address the root cause of the structural issues which lead to people claiming benefits in the first place.
He said: “We have put the extra £26 billion into the health service to get those waiting lists down and get people like your daughter the…” before the audience member quickly interjected again, saying “we can’t even find a doctor to do it”.
He added: “And to provide more doctors and GPs,” before the woman said at the same time “there’s nobody specialised in her condition.
“It’s worth investing £1bn more in getting people into work because over the long term it reduces the costs of the benefits they would be getting.”
Also on the panel were Conservative MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Helen Whately, broadcaster Richard Bacon, columnist Fraser Nelson and chair of Republicans Overseas UK Greg Swenson.
