GB News flooded with Ofcom complaints after outrageous disabled remark

GB News has been inundated with complaints after a guest on its Patrick Christys Tonight show made an outrageous comment about disabled people.

The remarks were made during a broadcast on 26th June, in which Christys discussed government spending on welfare. He told viewers that "welfare needs to be cut" and criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not doing more to reduce disability benefits.

Christys asked his guest, comedian and GB News contributor Lewis Schaffer, how he would encourage disabled claimants to stop relying on benefits.

Schaffer replied: "Just starve them, that's what people have to do, that's what you've got to do to people, you can't just give people money."

He then added: "What else can you do? Shoot them? I mean, I'd suggest that, but I think that's maybe a bit strong."

Christys responded: "Yeah, it's just not allowed these days."

The clip circulated online, drawing widespread criticism. Disability campaigners, unions and members of the public condemned the exchange, which aired on a channel regulated by Ofcom.

GB News initially declined to comment but later issued a statement to Disability News Service (DNS), saying: "Having reviewed the comment, which is clearly comedic, GB News does not consider there is anything that requires an apology, or further explanation."

Dr Natasha Hirst, disabled members' representative for the National Union of Journalists, said: "It is appalling and unacceptable for an Ofcom-regulated broadcaster to encourage and allow discriminatory and harmful commentary about disabled people.

"Suggesting violence towards disabled people is no joke and has real-life consequences by emboldening hate speech and harassment.

"We expect Ofcom to do its job as a regulator and investigate the complaints raised with a recognition of the wider context of exclusion and abuse that disabled people experience in their daily lives."

Disabled campaigner Ben Scott called for the broadcaster to be shut down by Ofcom. He described the remarks as "astronomically shocking" and said they echoed language used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Scott referred to the Aktion T4 programme, in which hundreds of thousands of disabled people were killed after being described by officials as "useless eaters".

After Scott criticised Schaffer on X, formerly Twitter, the comedian reposted part of his earlier statement, writing: "I'm suggesting 'starving' or and then 'shooting' the disabled, to lower costs!"

Schaffer's personal website was taken offline following the backlash. His Wikipedia page describes him as "an American comedian and broadcaster". He is also listed as a GB News contributor.

The incident comes three months after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released data outlining the cost to the economy of disabled people unable to work. At the time, critics described the language as "chilling".

Campaigners said the framing was dehumanising and risked fuelling stigma.

Ofcom confirmed it had received complaints but said the total number was fewer than 50, and it could not give an exact figure.

A spokesperson said: "We are assessing complaints about this programme against our broadcasting rules before deciding whether or not to investigate."