Angela Eagle criticised over evasive answers on water powers and food labelling
GB News mocked Dame Angela Eagle for evasive answers on Labour's new water company powers and on EU food labelling rules that could affect smoky bacon crisps.
How it was covered
- GB News was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on mocking Angela Eagle's evasive answers on water powers and food labelling.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
GB News broadcast a late-night segment criticising Dame Angela Eagle over her answers on EU food labelling and Labour's powers over water companies.
The segment played a clip in which Eagle was asked whether closer alignment with the EU on food and food labelling would mean banning smoky bacon crisps or banning their labelling. She replied that the debate had produced “EU straight bananas” and said: “I think you should get a life.”
GB News presenters said the clip showed her dismissing the issue. They also discussed EU rules that, in their account, stop foods without meat from being described using meat terms, and said smoky bacon crisps could have to be renamed.
The broadcast then played a second clip about water companies. Stig Abell asked Eagle what new powers councils would have to hold water companies to account, including whether they could fine companies or dismiss their chief executives. Eagle said new councils would have powers over prioritisation and investment decisions, referred to “a whole range of other issues”, and said details would come in the water bill.
GB News criticised that answer as evasive and said Eagle had failed to explain how the powers would work.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Angela Eagle said new councils would hold water companies accountable for investment and prioritisation decisions. | |
| Angela Eagle said those raising the smoky bacon crisps issue should get a life. | |
| GB News said EU law would bar meat-free products from using meat-related terms such as bacon. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News treated the story as a late-night attack segment, mocking Angela Eagle's answers as evasive and out of touch. It paired a clip about EU food labelling and smoky bacon crisps with a second clip about water company powers, using both to argue she could not answer straightforward questions. The tone was dismissive and personal, with the presenters joking that she was a suitable punishment for Russell Brand.
- “I think you should get a life.”
- “Politicians are boring, but she takes the biscuit.”
- “And she just cannot answer the question. It's so insulting.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 23:40 GMT
- 23:42 GMT
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.