'It's GB joke': Laurence Fox hits out at GB News after learning of sacking in police station

October 04, 2023

Laurence Fox has criticised GB News, calling the broadcaster "GB joke", and spoken of his relief that he has been sacked.

The actor and political activist told Sky News he discovered he had been fired while in a police station following his arrest.

He was detained on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras.

While in custody, GB News said it had concluded internal investigations into comments made by Fox about journalist Ava Evans on Dan Wootton Tonight and had subsequently "ended its employment relationship" with the 45-year-old.

Speaking outside Croydon police station after being released on Wednesday night, Fox said he had learnt of his sacking while in custody.

"It's not GB News, it's GB joke," Fox said.

"I found out about the GB News sacking, in there [the police station].

"They went; 'By the way, you've been sacked and there's loads of paparazzi out there'. And I was like 'phew'."

Asked about his arrest, Fox said: "They've let me go. It's Sadiq Khan's 'make a big thing out of Loz'.

"If Sadiq Khan thinks he can scare me, I've been intimidated by his coppers before."

On GB News, Fox added: "I don't know whether it's good for a business to lose its USP but at least I don't have to go there every Friday night and have someone pretend that they believe in free speech while not believing in free speech whatsoever."

GB News said its internal investigation into Wootton continues, while another host, Calvin Robinson, has also been sacked.

Fox, who is the leader of the Reclaim Party, said in a social media video shared earlier on Wednesday that his home was being searched by police officers.

Just before 10.45am, the party posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying: "Live now @LozzaFox is having his house searched by the police."

The post was accompanied by a video of Fox, sitting on his sofa addressing the camera, seemingly with police officers around him.

In the short clip, he says: "Look how many coppers there are around my house." In another video of Fox at his house, also shared to X, he criticises moves to what he called a "surveillance state".

Media watchdog Ofcom confirmed it had received almost 9,000 complaints about the GB News programme as details of Fox's arrest emerged.

On Tuesday, Fox appeared in a video voicing his support for so-called ULEZ Blade Runners, who have been tearing down cameras.

"I encourage them to tear down every single camera there is," he said in the clip, which he shared on social media. "I will be joining them to tear down cameras as well because I'm one of those people that puts my money where my mouth is… I will be out there with my angle grinder.

"I would encourage mass removal of the surveillance state... I would be happy to be arrested myself."

In a statement confirming a suspect has been arrested, a police spokesperson said: "On Wednesday, 4 October, officers arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras and encouraging or assisting offences to be committed.

"He was arrested in Stockwell and taken to a south London police station. He has since been bailed to return on a date in mid-December pending further enquiries."

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