BBC Question Time host Fiona Bruce was forced to intervene as one guest screamed “do something” at Labour’s transport secretary Heidi Alexander on the panel.
Fiona Bruce was compelled to momentarily halt the proceedings of BBC’s Question Time as a persistent audience member demanded action, imploring: “Do something!”
The scene unfolded on Thursday night, when during a fervent exchange on the Israel-Palestine conflict, a woman confronted Labour’s transport secretary Heidi Alexander, questioning the party’s relationship with what she called “an apartheid state.”
The interaction commenced with the audience member expressing a sense of betrayal, they said: “I feel such a sense of betrayal from the Labour Party.
“I would never vote Tory, I would never vote UKIP [Reform UK] and I used to vote Labour. Why are you still friends with Israel, an apartheid state, and why are you still- why is the Labour Party still sending components of F-35 weapons to Israel that are killing and targeting babies, children, hospitals, schools? Enough of this rhetoric about being anti-Semitic if you support Palestinian babies and children.”
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As tensions mounted, Fiona stepped in, stating: “Okay, okay, let’s let Heidi answer.”
When the woman attempted to question panelist Tim Montgomerie, Fiona interjected: “Well hang on, because I’ve only got about 30 seconds left, so I’m going to let Heidi answer, forgive me.”
Despite Fiona’s attempt to steer the discussion back, the woman pressed on, reports the Express.
She said: “And then please-” prompting Fiona to respond: “If I have time, but I must let Heidi answer that.”
Heidi tried to clarify the Labour Party’s position, stating: “We’re not sending F-35 components-” but was interrupted by the insistent audience member who countered loudly: “You are still sending components of F-35 weapons, yes you are.”
Fiona stated: “Let her answer,” despite the disruption, as a woman in the audience passionately interjected.
They continued: “You have reduced weapons by only 8% to Israel! By 8%!” while Fiona acknowledged: “I hear your passion, I must let her answer.”
Heidi was granted a moment to speak, saying: “I find it as sickening and as harrowing as every single person in this audience seeing those images on television of children wandering around rubble who are never going to find their parents and who are being starved to death.
“That is why we have got to find a way-” but an interruption followed, with the same audience member calling out: “Do something!”
Undeterred, Heidi continued: “-of finding a sustainable solution to the region and lasting peace, and getting significant humanitarian aid in.
“Because none of us want to wake up tomorrow and see those scenes on our television screens, and I think every single one of us on that panel would agree with that sentiment.”
Wrapping up the segment, Fiona said: “Listen, we will come back to the subject of Gaza, there is no question about that.
“We’ve covered it many times and we will cover it again, and I hear your passion about this subject and everyone on the panel understands that you feel very strongly about it.”
Question Time is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.