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Liam O'Dell
Jun 16, 2023
Question Time audience asked if they support the Tory governments Rwanda policy
BBC Question Time
The occasionally chaotic BBC debate programme that is Question Time offered up another wild moment on Thursday, when the panel turned to the sensitive subject of abortion laws in the UK.
The latest edition of the show, which was broadcast from an area of towns and villages near the Welsh-English border known as Deeside, touched upon the court case concerning 44-year-old Carla Foster, who was jailed for 28 months this week under legislation passed all the way back in 1861.
Ms Foster admitted illegally obtaining tablets during lockdown to initiate an abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant.
Abortion is still criminalised in the UK, with the procedure generally only considered legal before 24 weeks. They are carried out in clinics after 10 weeks of pregnancy.
After members of the panel – which was, as always, moderated by presenter Fiona Bruce – discussed the issue under the question, “are Victorian abortion laws appropriate in 2023”, the question was opened up to audience members to contribute.
One unnamed white man, in a white shirt, chipped in: “Is not anyone going to speak up for the unborn child, though, if it was near eight months, when perfectly healthy babies can be born at six and seven months and eight months? Not one person has spoken up about the child.”
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The man also stated it was right for Ms Foster to be jailed, adding “if there’s a week’s limit, there’s a week’s limit” and “it is death and that is the law”.
While David TC Davies MP, the Welsh secretary, said the law was “clearly broken” and there is “no doubt about that”, Labour peer and former member of Tony Blair’s cabinet David Blunkett had a different take.
He began: “Maturing white men are not always the best people to make judgements on this, but given that I am…”
However, the previous audience member interrupted him: “I take issue with the comment. What does my colour have to do with the debate? That is a disgusting comment.”
Lord Blunkett clarified: “I was talking about myself. I am the maturing white male, and I am very diffident.
“I took part in the Embryology Bill debate 30 years ago. It was difficult then and it’s really difficult now, and the thing I fully agree with, is that we mustn’t Americanise this really sensitive debate.
“It isn’t for or against; it’s getting it right.”
When Bruce brought the debate – and indeed, the show – to a close, Lord Blunkett went on to add: “Can I make one thing very clear, it is a small point: for the audience who don’t know me, I wasn’t making a point earlier about the man’s colour.
“How could I? I can’t see you.”
The awkward exchange has since trended on Twitter, with social media users ridiculing the audience member’s knee-jerk reaction:
\u201cThe GREATEST exchange in the history of Question Time!\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23 PS - David Blunkett is BLIND!\ud83d\ude33\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2642\ufe0f #BBCQT #QuestionTime #BBCQuestionTime #DavidBlunkett\u201d— Chris D (@Chris D) 1686869222
\u201cBlunkett: I don't think the maturing white male is the right person to answer on abortion:\n\nAudience member: What's my colour got to do with it?\n\nBlunkett: I was talking about myself.\n\nMore to the point, Blunkett's blind, you posturing moron. He can't see your skin colour. #bbcqt\u201d— Charlie | AmazingChi (@Charlie | AmazingChi) 1686868775
\u201cDavid Blunkett: \u201cMaturing, white men are not always the best to make judgements on this\u201d\n\nAudience member: \u201cWhat has my colour got to do with the debate?? That is disgusting!\u201d\n\nDavid Blunkett has been blind since birth\n\n#bbcqt\u201d— David (@David) 1686868683
\u201c@bbcquestiontime A moment for this guy, who took exception when he thought that blind David Blunkett, was referring to the colour of his skin. #bbcqt\u201d— BBC Question Time (@BBC Question Time) 1686869019
\u201cAwkward moment on #bbcqt:\n- Middle-aged white man comments on abortion\n- David Blunkett (who\u2019s blind) says that ageing white men aren\u2019t best placed to talk about women\u2019s rights (referring to himself)\n- Audience member who thinks Blunkett is talking about him becomes ENRAGED\u201d— Ben (@Ben) 1686869915
https://twitter.com/tarnlad77/status/1669474042452013056?s=20
\u201c@alococola What part of \u2018the blind person can\u2019t possibly know the colour of my skin\u2019 did he miss? Although to be fair, David Blunkett could make an educated guess listening to the content of his speech\u2026.\u201d— Colin\ud83d\uddffRyan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Colin\ud83d\uddffRyan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1686859500
\u201cBloke taking exception with David Blunkett, forgetting he\u2019s blind ffs \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f#bbcqt\u201d— Shane Levitt (@Shane Levitt) 1686858943
\u201cHahaha, audience member defending "the rights of the unborn child" mortified at being described as an aging white man by the blind David Blunkett.\n\nHe was talking about himself. He's blind. HE CAN'T SEE YOU! Lol.\n\n#bbcqt\u201d— George S \ud83d\udc99 (@George S \ud83d\udc99) 1686859343
\u201cAngry man attacks David Blunkett for \u201cwhite man\u201d comment. \n\nDo we think he might not be aware Mr. B is blind?\n\n #bbcqt\u201d— David Goodall (@David Goodall) 1686868560
As the audience applauded Lord Blunkett’s response, the cameras cut to the man in question smiling and clapping the politician.
Glad that’s settled, then.
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