Question Time's Fiona Bruce steps in as Labour minister left stuttering in fiery clash

BBC Question Time descended into chaos on Thursday night (October 9) when host Fiona Bruce was forced to step in as a heated row broke out over the Israel-Hamas peace deal. The fiery exchange unfolded between Labour MP James Murray and Reform UK representative Zia Yusuf after the panel was asked: "Should we applaud Trump over Gaza?" The pair were joined by Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, Green Party's Zack Polanski and journalist Annabel Denham, but tensions boiled over when Murray stumbled through his response - prompting Fiona to cut in, telling them firmly to "stop talking over each other".

Murray was seen stuttering over Yusuf as he tried to reclaim the conversation, visibly flustered as the Reform UK rep continued pressing him on Labour's stance. Acknowledging the historic peace deal announced earlier in the day, Murray attempted to defend Labour's stance, saying the party's decision to recognise Palestine as an independent state was the right one.

But Yusuf wasn't having it. Interrupting him mid-sentence, he launched into a blistering attack on Keir Starmer's party, demanding: "Secretary Rubio in Trump Cabinet has come and said that the early and in their view premature recognition of Palestine as an independent state actively set back peace talks - so do you want to apologise for that?"

Murray stood his ground, replying: "It was a decision we took. We want to keep the two-state solution alive."

Yusuf hit back again, insisting Labour's stance had "actively set back the peace talks" and claiming Keir Starmer's party should get no credit for the agreement.

Viewers were quick to slam host Fiona Bruce for "losing control" of the heated exchange.

One raged on X, formerly Twitter: "The chair has completely lost control of the debate. The caption on screen is about Gaza and it's been left behind while panellists bicker."

Another wrote: "#BBCQT isn't it quite sad that today's politics is about pulling down the opposition with slurs and attacks rather than having something intelligent to say how they will improve things.

We are so disillusioned in Britain we no longer believe the good or bad."

A third fumed: "Dreadful chairing of #BBCQT. This should have been nipped in the bud."

The fiery exchange came just hours after Donald Trump brokered what was hailed as a "historic" peace deal between Israel and Hamas - the first major breakthrough in years of conflict.

The agreement includes a phased ceasefire, hostage releases, and a partial Israeli military withdrawal.

It follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer's controversial move to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state, a decision critics claim undermined earlier peace efforts.

Starmer insisted it was "a moral step" aimed at "reviving hope for lasting peace," while Israel accused the UK of rewarding Hamas amid ongoing tensions.