A frosty confrontation took place on GB News when Robert Bates of the Centre for Migration Control clashed with political analyst Fahima Mahomed. The pair entered a fiery row over immigration figures and whether Channel crossings constitute criminal activity. GB News host Martin Daubney at one point had to step in during the debate as the conversation intensified. During the chat, Bates argued that individuals arriving via small boats were breaking the law. Ms Mahomed strongly contested this and said: "You are just assuming they are criminals."

She then added that many crossing the English Channel were legitimate asylum seekers rather than economic migrants. The frosty exchange showed deep divisions over how to interpret migration data, and whether unauthorised entry automatically labels someone a criminal. 

Bates insisted: "Fahima is refusing to acknowledge actual Government data." He then argued: "Men are vastly overrepresented and there are too many people on the Left refusing to acknowledge the very real link between migration as a whole and the small boats crisis and the uptick in the threats being posed to women and girls in this country."

He then continued: "I really don't see why people would dispute this. This is surely something we should be recognising and looking to adjust from accordingly." 

Fahima then contested: "I have no political ideology and I am an academic. I work within the Ministry of Justice and I know how statistics can be manipulated."

She insisted that the data failed to provide a comprehensive view: "It's not giving the complete picture. I believe it's horrific that anyone from any background has any sort of criminal activity but the way it's been contextualised here is showing everyone is coming here to behave that way. 

"They are not just economic migrants. They are genuine claimants." Bates then called her argument "ridiculous" then referred to an admission from immigration authorities about poor screening standards.

Bates then shot back: "We know absolutely nothing about these individuals. We have a real crisis on our hands here. [...] The asylum applications being done, and the Home Office admit this, 50 per cent are not being done to a satisfactory level." 

She replied: "That's because we don't have the staffing and time." Tensions started to boil over and Martin had to interrupt the debate in order to restore some calm, and told Bates: "Let Fahima talk."