Eamonn Holmes joined royal broadcaster and historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo and anti-racism activist Imarn Ayton on Tuesday morning’s bulletins on GB News

Eamonn Holmes launched into a furious rant live on GB News.

“Don’t lecture me – give me a break,” he screamed as royal broadcaster and historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo and anti-racism activist Imarn Ayton debated if the Union flag was too divisive. The story came from a village in Norfolk who say the flag ‘scares people’.

Imarn joined the panel on Tuesday’s instalment of Holmes’ show as she called for Brits to reconsider flying the Union Jack flag due to its “associations with the far-right”. Eamonn said: “Running a flag outside a village hall in Norfolk, you sort of think what’s the big deal.”

Eamonn seemingly didn’t agree with the comments ( Image: GB News)
But Imarn was having none of it, firing back: “Be considerate. No, be considerate guys. I know you’ve finished your segment but Eamonn I’m not going to let you finish with that one. Be considerate of other people’s beliefs and views.”

She continued her rant: “If you are considerate and sympathetic of everyone and how we perceive the world, you might find yourself leading with equality. Just so you know, I’ll finish it there.” Furious Eamonn jumped in, saying: “Let me just tell you something. You don’t have to lecture me. I sit in the middle, trying to see both sides of things…”

“Well, I have too,” Imarn added. Eamonn shouted: “I grew up in a country…” Imarn said: “You should have finished with [me] but you finished with Rafe.” Eamonn replied: “I finished with everyone. I’m trying to say you did not grow up in Northern Ireland, where a flag represented something political and anti to a certain religion in northern Ireland, I did.”

“And just like with black people, you are not black sir and I understand racism more than you,” Imarn commented back. “I haven’t experienced racial discrimination or prejudice or bias in regards to being white but what I have done is experienced it being black. Ahh Eamonn, we’re the same babes.’ Ahh give me a break. Let’s go to the break. Back after this,” Eamonn finished. Viewers flocked to X, formally Twitter with their reactions.

Eamonn clashed with anti-racism activist Imarn Ayton ( Image: GB News)
“Someone should have turned her [microphone] off,” commented one user. While someone else branded her “offensive” for saying the “British flag is linked to far-right”. Another user wrote: “Surely under the current rules this woman constantly crosses the line into stirring up hatred?” While someone else replied: “Its Imarn Ayton’s way or no way. This person is reprehensible and the only reason TV companies give them airtime is because of the entertainment factor. Adds no other value, I don’t ever recall what they said.”