GB News host Alex Armstrong has torn into Labour’s latest attempt to tackle misogyny in Britain’s young men, branding the plan an “utter joke”.
Discussing the newly announced violence against women and girls strategy, the Britain’s Newsroom star criticised the “nonsense” helpline, declaring it the work of “north Islington elites”.
Labour’s new strategy will fund teachers receiving specialist training on how to talk to pupils about issues like consent and the dangers of sharing intimate images, with experts brought in to pilot new approaches.
The new helpline will be launched to help young people concerned about their behaviours to get the help they need.
Reacting to the plans, host Miriam Cates asked: “This new helpline that’s going to be launched is to help young people concerned about their behaviour, to get the help that they need.
“But I’ve just been playing through my head how this might come about – so if a boy makes a sexist joke, let’s say in class, does the teacher refer him onto this kind of ‘sexism Prevent’ program?”
Alex responded: “That’s exactly what’s going to happen! Can you imagine? We’re spending money on this, it is an utter joke, isn’t it?
“What are these boys going to say when they call this helpline? What do you think they’re going to say?”
Alex Armstrong took aim at Labour’s plans for a new misogyny helpline
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GB NEWS / PA
Criticising the helpline further, Alex swiped: “I’d love to be a fly on the wall, it’ll be hilarious. I hope they record the conversation, because I think that’s going to be the best thing that comes out of this, just comedy gold for the next few years.
“I mean, it just so is so out of touch.”
Highlighting how children in today’s society “don’t know how to speak to people over the phone”, Alex told GB News viewers: “First of all, a helpline is very out of touch for kids that spend their entire time asking ChatGPT for advice.
“They can’t speak to people on the phone as it is these kids, they do everything over text message.
“So it’s devoid of any intellect, of any thought behind it. It’s north Islington elites isn’t it, who’ve come up with this nonsense.”
Labour’s new violence against women and girls strategy will focus on healthy relationships and consent, and tackle relationship abuse through a new helpline
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GETTY
Agreeing with Alex, Miriam said: “We can laugh about it, it is laughable, but there’s a really serious issue here, which is that violence against women and girls is growing.
“We’re seeing attacks on the street, we’re seeing 50 per cent of child sexual abuse now is carried out by other children, there is a serious problem here.”
She argued: “But the problem is not sexist jokes or Andrew Tate necessarily. The problem is the kind of extreme material pornography that boys are seeing.
“But also cultural interventions, for example, some Islamic cultures that don’t teach that women are equal. That’s far more powerful than a sexist joke, surely.”
Alex and Miriam criticised the Government’s latest strategy to tackle misogyny
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GB NEWS
Alex agreed, concluding: “That’s very true, but they don’t want to talk about that, do they? They haven’t got the backbone to talk about that.
“They just want a blanket attack on young boys who, let’s face it, are already having a very difficult time as it is.”
In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.
“This Government is stepping in sooner – backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear – to stop harm before it starts.
“This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”