Fiona Bruce hosted the Question Time Immigration Special (Image: BBC)
Reform UK’s Head of Policy Zia Yusuf doubled down on his experience of being on the panel for BBC Question Time‘s immigration special on Thursday December 4 stating everything he has said about the experience is true. Speaking on GB News the day after the show, he said: “I do encourage people to watch some of the clips that are on social media… just so that you can realise that everything (Reform’s) saying is true.
“I had to really process this, because I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. I couldn’t believe that this was happening in such an open and blatant way…Just going back to…the Iranian (guy) who was reading the statement of why Britain should leave the ECHR. At one point, he started talking about the Northern Ireland protocol, and I didn’t realise that was something that was such a big issue in Iran. So it was ridiculous. I think it clearly was set up to try to put reform on the spot.
Continuing his point, he went on: “And the evidence for that is, Fiona Bruce [- the show’s presenter] asked me directly would you deport this particular gentleman in that audience, which is obviously an emotional appeal.
“Of course, I get it. These are all human beings. But ultimately, as I said in my answer, the vast majority of the people coming across the English Channel illegally are men. We know that to be true. It’s a statistical fact.
“And if you’re entering a war zone, then it’s generally men first, is it not? And if you’re fleeing a war zone, then it’s women and children first, and that’s the most obvious point.
“So absolutely they must be deported. They will be deported. And by the way, I said exactly as such on the programme,” he explained further.
Zia Yussuf opened up about his experience on Question Time (Image: GB News)
The BBC have denied claims made by Yusuf that he was only told about the presence of the immigrants five minutes before the show went live. They have also categorically denied claims that either of the immigrants was told what to say and further allegations that one of the men was wearing an earpiece.
Contacted by Express.co.uk the broadcaster denied Yusuf’s claim stating: “As immigration continues to be a primary concern for people in the UK, Question Time held a special episode in Dover with panellists from across the political spectrum and a local audience with a range of views and experiences. Over 20 audience members asked questions and contributed to the debate – including two people with direct experience of the asylum system in the UK who have been granted refugee status.
“We spoke to the contributors beforehand to ask them about their experiences, but no one was briefed about what to say during the show,” they said. The BBC added: “All of the parties represented on the panel were told the day before the show that there would be people in the audience who had been through the asylum system.”
They also vehemetly denied allegations made by Reform MP Richard Tice who believed he spotted some headphones on one of the men and questioned what they were in a post on X. The BBC spokesperson insisted: “This is a ridiculous suggestion and completely false. These were simply a pair of headphones he forgot to take off.”
