Priti Patel Slams “Brexit-Bashing BBC” During Tory Conference Fringe Speech

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has branded the BBC “Tory hating Brexit-bashers,” and “free speech deniers,” while defending scandalised GB News.

Speaking at the Conservative Democratic Organisation‘s gala dinner, a fringe event running alongside the Conservative Party conference, Patel praised GB News as “the newest, most successful, dynamic, no nonsense news station, and the defenders of free speech”

“This isn’t breaking news but I think it’s safe to say our country needed a new disruptor when it came to news media,” she added.

“You have represented people outside of Westminster and the metropolitan elite, providing competition and a real alternative to mainstream news, ultimately, is what the people want.”

After repeatedly breaking ofcom rules around impartiality, in recent weeks, GB News has once again found itself in hot water.

This came after the station suspended three of its presenters – Dan Wootton, who has recently been publicly accused of rape and sexual blackmail, Laurence Fox, and Calvin Robinson.

The suspensions came after Fox made sexist comments about a radical feminist live on air.

Patel was last week made a Dame via Boris Johnson’s honours list.

Speaking at the event, Patel also demanded that the Conservative Party returns to protecting free-speech and conservative principles, promoting a “radical tax-cutting, enterprise-backing, small-State, Freedom-embracing government”.

The CDO was founded in 2022 by Johnson-backer Lord Peter Cruddas after the removal of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Also making a shock appearance was Nigel Farage, who has long been a vocal critic of the party.

Patel told guests at the dinner: “We must offer them full-blooded Conservatism.

“A Conservative manifesto that has our values of Freedom, Enterprise and Opportunity at its heart.

“A manifesto that gives families and businesses the economic freedoms that they care by cutting taxes, reducing red tape, and making the most of the freedoms we now have outside of the European Union.

“Our next manifesto must commit to rolling back the frontiers of the State by reforming public services so they are more efficient and effective, bring down the burden of State spending – the weight of which is making our country sink, and empower communities over planning and development.

“We need a manifesto that tackles climate change and Net Zero by focusing on technology not taxation, and on supporting innovation and enterprise rather than regulation and targets.”

She added: “Our next manifesto must defend our Freedoms to think, to speak and to hold beliefs – without facing the fear of censure or persecution.

“We should never be ashamed of promoting a radical tax-cutting, enterprise-backing, small-State, Freedom-embracing government.

“We know that is what’s best for our country’s future success and prosperity, and we know it is an approach that inspires and motivates the country.”