GB News host Anne Diamond has delivered a blistering assessment of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, demanding to know if the Prime Minister is “reading the room” as his Government becomes mired in scandals over “paedophile apologists”.

Confronting Labour MP Jake Richards, Anne questioned whether the Labour frontbench has lost touch with the British public, allowing the national conversation to be hijacked by a series of high-profile appointments and subsequent U-turns.

She said: “Is the Prime Minister really reading the room? Is he properly addressing the issues ordinary people seem to care about or is he allowing the political debate to be overtaken by scandals and U-turns?

“For example, this was Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions and you have to ask, doesn’t she have a point?

“She said: ‘It’s all very well to criticise us. We weren’t the ones stuffing Government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists.’ Is that true? I’m afraid it’s a serious charge.”

Mr Richards responded: “Well, you asked whether we should be focusing on what people are actually worried about. They’re worried about the cost of living.

“They’re worried about illegal migration. They’re worried about the welfare bill. They’re worried about law and order and crime on our streets which is exactly what I’m making an announcement about today.

“But it’s also perfectly legitimate for the Leader of the Opposition, and for journalists like yourselves, to ask serious questions about these appointments, because clearly something went wrong.

“The Prime Minister has acknowledged that. He’s accepted there was a mistake in relation to Peter Mandelson and has apologised.

“More importantly, he’s determined to take action to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

In a bid to pivot back to the Government’s legislative agenda, Mr Richards pointed to a major new £320million investment in youth justice services.

The policy aims to ensure that any child caught carrying a knife is met with “intensive, swift intervention”.

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GB News host Mark White said: “Now, as you say, let’s turn to today’s announcement. It is an important one this diversion scheme for young people caught carrying knives.

“How important is it to get this up and running as quickly as possible, particularly given the knife-related incidents we’ve seen in recent days?”

He responded: “Many of your viewers will be deeply concerned about knife crime.

“The Government has committed to halving knife crime over the next ten years.

“We’ve made progress in the first 18 months, with an eight per cent reduction. But as you rightly say, in the past few days we’ve tragically seen further incidents.

“That’s why today we’re announcing a new policy so that any child caught carrying a knife will receive intensive, swift intervention to help them turn their back on crime and have a normal, healthy childhood.

“We’re backing this with £320million of investment in youth justice services over the next three years, ensuring there are the resources needed to intervene early particularly with children on the cusp of criminality.

“It’s a vital part of our wider strategy to clamp down on knife crime.”