A fiery confrontation erupted on GB News as Reform UK's Doge leader Zia Yusuf repeatedly pressed Labour MP Barry Gardiner to clarify whether the Government plans to cut spending on children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The heated exchange saw Yusuf demand a straight answer about whether "the net cost to the Exchequer" would increase or decrease under Labour's policies.

The confrontation comes as ministers consider scrapping education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for Send pupils under a wholesale review of the current system.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson repeatedly refused to rule out axing EHCPs when questioned by the BBC, declining three times to confirm whether the legally binding documents would remain.

Zia Yusuf repeatedly pressed Labour MP Barry Gardiner to clarify whether the government plans to cut spending on children

Gardiner replied: "What was it Nigel Farage said about diagnosing children with additional needs? He said it was "creating a class of victims.

"And then a party spokesperson blamed 'naughty children' and 'bad parenting.' Parents watching this hearing that your party said their child’s special educational needs are the result of bad parenting and naughty behaviour will think you just don’t understand what ordinary people’s lives are like. They are struggling with their children’s needs. They’re struggling to get support. What this Government is doing is providing that support".

Yusuf fumed: "You’re claiming that as a result of these policies, more money will be spent on welfare for children with SEND, not less? Is that what you're saying?"

Gardiner started to respond "no", before Yusuf fumed: "Okay, well that’s what you just said. So you are reducing spending."

Gardiner interjected: "That is not what I just said. And let me spell it out for you, in case there was any confusion. What I’ve said is that if you spend money on prevention, if you get to children early, if you make sure that support is in place from the very beginning, then the problems we’re seeing now won't escalate."

Yusuf fired back: "I’m still not hearing an answer to my question. Is spending going up or down?"

Gardiner added: "This is the answer to your question. Ultimately, if you get this right, if you support families, if you support children, then you won’t need to spend billions further down the line This isn’t some Johnny-come-lately scheme. Look at our manifesto.

"Look at what Bridget Phillipson has set out: support for families, best-practice hubs, a Sure Start. That’s been in place from the start. It’s a clear commitment we made to the electorate and one we were elected on."

Yusuf pressed: "Do you honestly think people voted Labour to cut welfare spending? Is that really what you think the public backed you to do?

"Let me ask my fundamental question, which you still haven’t answered: Under your policies, is the net cost to the Exchequer going up or down?"

Gardiner hit back, insisting the argument from Yusuf was "based on a false premise."

He said Reform UK had "wrongly suggested that Labour’s entire welfare policy was about cutting support for British citizens," something he flatly denied.

Zia Yusuf fumed "answer the question" at the Labour MP

But Yusuf pressed him further, saying it "remained unclear" whether overall spending on support would increase or decrease.

Gardiner responded that while "upfront investment would rise, the long-term cost to the system would ultimately fall due to early intervention and prevention" meaning future savings could be made.

However, Yusuf accused Labour of cutting back support for British children with special educational needs, while continuing to spend billions on foreign aid, green energy schemes and housing illegal migrants.

He said the Government’s priorities showed there was “no money left for British people” and claimed that was the real issue Labour refused to confront.