Good Morning Britain: Iain Dale storms out of live broadcast amid debate over role of funding cuts in Tate Modern attack The LBC presenter said the suggestion that funding cuts to mental health services had any role to play in the incident was ‘utter rubbish’

Broadcaster Iain Dale abruptly left the set of Good Morning Britain during a live broadcast on Friday after clashing with two other guests over the role of funding cuts to mental health services in the Tate Modern attack.

The debate followed the news that Jonty Bravery, 18, who is autistic and who admitted to throwing a six-year-old French boy from the gallery’s viewing platform last August, had allegedly told his carers of a plan to “push somebody off” a high building with the intent of killing them a year earlier. The child, who was on holiday with his family, was severly injured in the attack and suffered a bleed to the brain, fractures to his spine and broken legs and arms.

During the programme’s debate, commentator Grace Blakely and BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake suggested that underfunded mental health services had played a role in the incident, citing cuts to local government that would have had a direct impact on care resources.

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But Mr Dale called the suggestion “utter rubbish” and later took off his mic and walked off set.

‘Utter, utter rubbish’

The LBC presenter called the point “utter, utter rubbish, if I may say so” before adding: “It has nothing to do with cuts. This is to do with people doing the sensible thing and reporting something. You don’t have to have thousands of pounds to be able to be sensible.”

The pair vocally disagreed with him. Ms Blakeley said: “No, you have to have a basic amount of money to be able to actually respond.”

Mr Arthanayake pointed out that Bravery is believed to have travelled to the Tate Modern on his own, despite needing round-the-clock care. “He went on his own, presumably because there wasn’t somebody who would accompany him at all times because there wasn’t the resources,” he told Mr Dale.

“To just sweep that away without any facts, and say, ‘Oh it’s not about resources’ is just ridiculous. Do you want the data for lack of resources? Do you want the data?”

Both guests ended up talking over Mr Dale as he tried to make himself heard, after which he eventually said: “OK, I won’t speak.” He subsequently got up and took off his mic before leaving the set.

He later apologised to the show’s presenters but claimed “it wasn’t worth hanging around” as the debate had become about “closing me down”.

I enjoy my early mornings on @GMB with @Jacqui_Smith1 because they’re all about civilised discussion. Today’s was not. It was about closing me down. I decided it wasn’t worth hanging around. Apologies to @kategarraway, @benshephard & @CharlotteHawkns but enough is enough. — Iain Dale (@IainDale) February 7, 2020

‘I’ve got to kill somebody’

A recording from autumn 2018, obtained following a joint investigation by BBC News and the Daily Mail, allegedly reveals Bravery telling his carers of a plan to kill someone.

The audio says: “In the next few months I’ve got it in my head I’ve got to kill somebody.”

Bravery, who is autistic, also allegedly told his carers he wanted to go into central London and visit a tall landmark to push somebody off it.

Care provider Spencer & Arlington told the BBC they had “no knowledge or records of the disclosure”.

In a statement, it said there was “absolutely no evidence” that Bravery “may have told his carers of his plan”.

Spencer & Arlington said that there was no record of the disclosure in any care plan, care report or review from managers or his carers, psychologists, or health workers.

But the company said it recognised the “gravity” of the claim and has reported the concerns to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Bravery, of Ealing in west London, admitted a charge of attempted murder in December at the Old Bailey in London and is due to be sentenced in February.

The court previously heard how Bravery was seen wandering about the viewing platform before picking up his victim and throwing him over the edge.

The six-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was visiting London with his family at the time and is now said to be recovering in his native France.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the six-year-old’s intensive rehabilitation said that he had started to speak again shortly before Christmas.

Additional reporting by Press Association.