GB News erupts into furious migrant row as boat set on fire: 'Are you serious?'

GB News erupted into a furious row as presenter Ben Leo and former Labour spokesman James Matthewson butted heads. They could not agree on whether or not a controversial bonfire display in Northern Ireland, featuring an effigy of migrants in a boat, should be deemed as racist.

The display showed a vessel with approximately twelve life-sized mannequins wearing lifejackets atop a loyalist bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone. It also featured placards reading "Stop the boats" and "Veterans before refugees". However, Ben couldn't see how it would be racist as he defended the bonfire, which had since been lit according to police. He told the show's guest: "I don't think it's particularly racist". But Matthew blasted the "disgusting and racist" display, as he fumed: "You don't think it's racist to put brown dummies on top of a bonfire? Are you being serious?"

Ben then quizzed Matthew on why he was "thinking about skin colour" before he asked: "Why does it matter?" He went on to describe the bonfire as a "symbolic" one that "opposes illegal migration".

But the GB News star's comments only added fuel to the fire, as Mr Matthewson snapped back: "Why did they choose brown dummies?" Ben replied: "I don't know James, ask them." As the clash continued, Mr Matthewson accused the presenter of "doing mental gymnastics".

The fire formed part of traditional loyalist commemorations marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

The Moygashel bonfire was one of several hundred lit across Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday as part of annual celebrations commemorating King William III's Protestant victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Mr Matthewson was just one of many politicians who condemned the display. Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew called it "an absolutely disgusting act fuelled by sickening racist and far-right attitudes" and demanded its immediate removal.

SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn even went as far as reporting the display to police. They said: "Those responsible for this hateful display claim to be celebrating British culture. Let's be clear, racism and intimidation are not culture. This isn't pride, it's poison."