reporter Simon Marks was forced to step in when a row between two MPs turned nasty live on-air. Karin Smyth and Tory MP Joe Robertson were left fuming with each other during a row over immigration, with Smyth snapping at Robertson: "Are you proud of what you [the government] left?"
Robertson tried to say: "I have admitted and accepted on a number of occasions-" but was cut off by Smyth, who said flatly: "That'll be no." He tried again to continue, saying: "As has -" but she interrupted once again to say: "So that's a no?", leaving Robertson to finally conclude: "-that we did not get it right in government."
Smyth said: "So it's a mess, and we'll clear it up." Robertson acknowledged: "The current government has a job to do to get it right," as Smyth said: "And we will!"
He continued: "But bad law wrapped up in tough talking language is not going to sort the issue. Previous Conservative governments have made that mistake, and Labour have not learned from it. What we need is robust law, such as disapplying the human rights act when it comes to immigration cases, which we put forward and the government slapped down-"
Cutting Robertson off once again, Smyth argued: "So you're not interested in skilling the young people in my constituency and letting them have access to the jobs that are here? You're not interested in using government-"
Robertson was clearly fuming as he said: "These questions are- Can I just say, what I am interested in is the care sector being supported and not shutting off a very important route for needed, skilled migrants working in care, and as a health minister I find it extraordinary you backed a bill which shuts off that lifeline to a sector which is under pressure."
Smyth simply hit back: "The people that are here, we want to get them into proper jobs rather than the exploitation that they've already experienced."
SNP politician John Nicholson then called for host Simon to intervene, until the LBC star cut the pair's argument off and abruptly announced: "Let's hear from John Nicholson next!"
