There were some heated debates last night as BBC's Question Time was broadcast live from Weymouth.
The show, presented by journalist Fiona Bruce, was held at The Bay Theatre at Weymouth College.
Environment Secretary George Eustice, former Conservative Cabinet member Michael Portillo, left wing political activist Ash Sarkar, Labour MP Alison McGovern and the economist and author Howard Davies were on the panel, fielding questions from many local people on a range of subjects.
Alison McGovern said the new points system for immigration would be "very bureaucratic" and would make things "much more complex for people." She also spoke on the need for better pay for people who work in social care.
‘I am sick to death of people who work in social care being on poverty pay’@Alison_McGovern criticises the Conservative government’s plans for a points-based immigration system. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/Gr1zZC2lTy
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
An audience member, who said they were from London, caused quite a stir during a debate on immigration. She said: "You have got people flooding into this country that can't speak English," and suggested that there should be pay stations in hospitals for immigrants and tourists to use.
“We should completely close the borders … enough is enough”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This audience member says the number of people ’flooding in’ to the UK is costing public services too much. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/T5EshhWqQu
Ash Sarkar responded by defending migrants and making the "human case" for immigration. She spoke of her grandmother coming to Britain and explained: "That's a human story that's got worth and it's got a value which cannot be valued merely in GDP."
“Migrants to this country bring more and contribute more in tax than they take out”@AyoCaesar says there is a ‘human case’ in support of immigration to Britain. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/mWrvxu7ceA
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This audience member said that people working in social care were not valued enough, adding: "We need to address the social care crisis."
“We must value them more and pay them well”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This audience member says we need to address Britain’s “social care crisis” and show more appreciation for our workers. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/nl1Ct0skns
A community nurse that was sat in the crowd talked about how reliant the social care system was on foreign nationals. She said it was "a scary thought that people like myself are going to be picking up the mess" if foreign nationals are discouraged from working in social care.
“12% of the health and social care work force are foreign nationals, we couldn’t function without them”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This nurse says discouraging foreign nationals from coming to work in social care could cause the system to ‘collapse even further’. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/WZuRzVMWtu
On the subject of Caroline Flack's death, Ash Sarkar called for better regulation of the press and compared it to regulation of tobacco companies.
“This tabloid hunger to build up young women in the public eye - just to tear them down”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
After Caroline Flack’s death, @AyoCaesar says the media is “ruining people’s lives for profit” #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/G5GzDUI2W0
In response, this participant said people should stop buying tabloids.
“If you don’t read those newspapers, they’re not going to make the stories”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This #bbcqt audience member says people should avoid buying tabloid newspapers, following the death of Caroline Flack. pic.twitter.com/RsB76rt9ww
Changing the subject, this audience member said that while the death of Caroline Flack was sad, "We have hundreds and hundreds of veterans who are dying at their own hand every single year." He called for more support for these people.
“We have hundreds and hundreds of veterans who are dying at their own hand every single year. Where is the outcry?”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This audience member says the death of Caroline Flack is “very sad”, but we should also remember many others who need support. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/9cXUninABt
Howard Davies called for a return to "civility" in the wake of Caroline Flack's death and questioned the lack of the "innocent until proven guilty" concept in this case.
“What has happened to innocent until proven guilty?”@HowardJDavies talks about how Caroline Flack was treated before her death. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/XnX5fkboUF
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
George Eustice defended the government's response to Storm Dennis and talked about the 'Flood Response Centre'.
“The first thing the Prime Minister said to me was we’ve got Storm Dennis coming up, we want you to take the lead on that”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
Newly appointed Environment Secretary George Eustice defends the gov’t response to flooding. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/iW16rBaito
Despite admitting he owes most of his income to television, Michael Portillo said the BBC licence fee could not survive.
“The BBC is losing its audience’
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
Michael Portillo says he does not believe the licence fee can ‘survive’. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/U0KJ63ovcO
In a humorous exchange, an audience member questioned why presenters were paid "six and seven figure" salaries when many people are living on low wages. He remarked that "anyone in the audience could get up and present a programme brilliantly."
“If you want me to take over, I’ll do it for you next week if you like”
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 20, 2020
This #bbcqt audience member says we should all be ‘proud’ of the BBC, but questions why we are paying presenters ‘six and seven figure salaries’. pic.twitter.com/NR3qQjjoHA
The Dorset Echo asked the BBC if it had received any complaints about last night's programme, however the BBC instead responded with the following statement: "Last night's Question Time included a debate about immigration which featured a broad range of views from the audience members and panellists. We posted five clips of people expressing their different views on the issue, including a panellist responding directly to the views of an audience member."
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