Martin Daubney has been embroiled in a fiery clash with a Labour peer over devolution, accusing him of “deflecting” from questions about the burden on taxpayers.
The GB News presenter challenged Lord Foulkes on the case for further devolution, asking whether it would simply create more bureaucracy and highly paid public sector roles.
“What’s the point of devolution when the cost has already doubled in five years, and the last thing this country needs is more bureaucracy?” Martin asked, insisting that “we need action”.
Lord Foulkes argued that more power should be moved away from London, using media organisations’ London bases as an example.
“You see, GB News doesn’t have a studio anywhere outside London. You’re not a GB organisation, you’re a London organisation,” Lord Foulkes claimed.
Martin was keen to challenge the Labour peer’s remark, given that The People’s Channel reports from all four corners of the United Kingdom.
“Lord Foulkes, stop being preposterous and deflecting on all these questions and answer the question,” he said.
“Taxpayers are paying for all these bureaucrats. We’ve got a right to question how our money is spent.
Martin Daubney was embroiled in a fiery clash with a Labour peer over devolution
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GB NEWS
“They work for us. So do you; the taxpayer pays the Lords’ expenses.”
The pair continued to clash as Lord Foulkes argued that Whitehall was too London-centric and that more civil servants should be based outside the capital.
“People who work in London, civil servants, get paid much more,” Lord Foulkes said.
“They live near London; they know only about London… Whitehall is so London-based. We need people who understand.”
‘Lord Foulkes, stop being preposterous and deflecting on all these questions and answer the question,’ Martin said
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GB NEWS
Martin then turned his attention to Scotland, questioning whether devolution had represented value for money for taxpayers.
“This has been a huge success in Scotland, hasn’t it, Lord Foulkes? Because it’s been a romp for taxpayers,” he said sarcastically.
Lord Foulkes, a former Minister of State for Scotland, acknowledged problems in Holyrood but defended the principle of devolution, arguing it had transferred power away from London and Whitehall.
Martin countered that devolution was instead creating “very highly paid new roles” and accused Labour of cementing its influence in cities.
Lord Foulkes, a former Minister of State for Scotland, defended the principle of devolution
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GB NEWS“This is cementing power in metropolitan Labour areas with new mandarins who answer to the Labour Party,” he said.
“And if the Labour Party loses the general election in the future, don’t worry, we control Manchester, we control Birmingham, we control Nottingham.
“This is the Labour Party setting out its tents across the nation with the taxpayer footing the bill. I think that’s the true motive.”
Lord Foulkes rejected the suggestion, quipping that he hoped Martin was right that Labour would control the metropolitan authorities, but argued that devolution was delivering practical benefits.
He pointed to Manchester’s bus services and skills training as examples of the policy working.
“Manchester is a very good example of the way devolution works, and we want to see it in more parts of the United Kingdom,” he said.
Martin disagreed, arguing that local people were not necessarily benefiting from the transfer of power.
“People’s council tax bills go up. The roads are still full of potholes, the bins still aren’t emptied. The people aren’t the winners. The bureaucrats are the winners.”
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