GB News presenters Emily Carver and Tom Harwood were of differing opinions when it came to discussing the UK Youth Parliament’s annual sitting in the House of Commons.
A heated exchange broke out on whether taxpayers’ money should fund the event, which allows young people to debate in Parliament.
The debate erupted as more than 300 young people aged 11-18 prepared to gather in the Commons to discuss issues including voting age and minimum wage for under-22s.
GB News host Tom Harwood said: “They’re not having debates. That’s not what they have.
Tom fumed that “it is not a proper debate”
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“How the Youth Parliament works, which we pay for through our taxes through the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, they produce a manifesto of how a parliament, which is supposed to be a debating chamber, can have a manifesto.
“They have 106 policies that they’ve all signed up to, this includes websites selling bladed articles should be banned.
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“So they want to ban Amazon now. Okay. They want free holiday provisions in the UK. School uniforms should be free. Rehab services free for young people.
“All young people deserve free mental health services. All young people should have free school meals.
“They want mandatory funding for youth councils. There should be free period products for everyone. They should be made less accessible.”
Emily said: “We get the Idea. It sounds like Jeremy Corbyn.”
Tom added: “It’s Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto and we’re paying for it. What is going on?” Emily said: “I take your point.”
Tom fumed: “We don’t want to be funding this type of stuff. You know, taxpayers money being wasted and all of this.”
Emily said: “But it’s just a nice thing as well. Tom, I feel like you’re a little bit too wound up about this. It’s disproportionate to the issue.
“I think about your anger over this and I wonder whether it feels personal, whether you, as a young Tom Harwood, would have loved to have have taken part in such a thing.
The youth parliament sat today
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He fumed: “No I’m not.” Emily playfully responded: “I don’t know about that, you were the head of the student union Tom.”
He said: “They were debating unions around this country. If you want to play at politics, don’t do it in the actual place where actual members of Parliament meet.”
The UK Youth Parliament was established in 1999 to provide opportunities for young people to influence public policy.
It particularly aims to include those from marginalised communities.