Laurence Fox rows with SNP’s Humza Yousaf as they trade insults over GB News rant

Laurence Fox and SNP leader Humza Yousaf have traded insults over Mr Fox’s GB News rant.

This morning, GB News suspended Mr Fox with immediate effect over comments he made about journalist Ava Evans on Dan Wootton’s show.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Yousaf retweeted Ms Evan’s clip of Mr Fox’s rant about her on Tuesday evening and said he was pleased Ofcom was investigating.

Following his comments, Mr Fox decided to retweet Mr Yousaf’s post with a video of Mr Yousaf speaking in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Fox’s comments about journalist Ms Evans sparked a wave of backlash and led to his suspension from the channel.

Mr Yousaf tweeted: “What a vile neanderthal @LozzaFox is, and an example of bystander behaviour enabling such misogyny from the presenter.

“I’m so sorry @AvaSantina had to listen to this. It is why men have to step up and challenge misogynistic abuse wherever we see it. Pleased Ofcom investigating.”

In response, Mr Fox said: “The feeling is entirely mutual, you vile Neanderthal.”

Below this, Mr Fox posted a video of Mr Yousaf making a statement in Holyrood about the lack of diversity in Scotland’s trade unions and government.

The clash between the pair has come hours after Mr Fox was suspended by GB News over vile comments made about Ms Evans.

Alongside his suspension, GB News said in a statement: “GB News has formally suspended Laurence Fox while we continue our investigation into comments he made on the channel last night.

“Mr Fox’s suspension is effective immediately and he has been taken off air. We will be apologising formally to Ms Evans today.”

On Wednesday morning, Mr Fox appeared to double down on his comments and said he stood by every word he had said.

Mr Fox said: “I realise that the new woke world is low on laughter and high on offence, but it’s still worth trying to find the lighter moments in this joyless new cancel culture which has been created for us.

“This lady has said on air that she wants men to be ‘frightened’ and ‘terrified’. Tumbleweed from the media at her premeditation and malevolence.

“Because it’s not a man saying it. Which rather proves my point. You are totally entitled to find my mockery of the insane hypocrisy in this world not to your taste, but that’s me, and I will continue to be me, as a wise man once said ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is taken’.

“So you keep trying to cancel away in your state of permanent offence, I’ve been cancelled already and may well be again, but I don’t care one bit, and I will keep defending my right to have an opinion on issues which concern me.”

In the aftermath of Mr Fox’s comments, figures from across journalism and politics have defended Ms Evans who said she felt “physically sick” because of Mr Fox’s comments.

The incident prompted Piers Morgan to tell his 8.5 million followers: “Ava is a very talented journalist and delightful person. Fox is a disgusting piece of misogynist trash.”

Labour MP and shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry added: “I’m so sorry this has happened to you.

“This smirking, sniggering misogyny needs to be called out. British television should never subject women to this sort of abuse.”