Mark Dolan was embroiled in a feisty clash with political commentator Amy Nickell-Turner on GB News after she claimed Brexit has contributed to Britain becoming “lawless”.

The Patrick Christys Tonight panel were discussing knife-related incidents over the last few days in Southend and Southport, and whether the violent scenes are reflective of an increasingly divided country.

Asked by Mark what she felt has led to the violence, Nickell-Turner said a variety of factors have put Britain on a slippery slope.

“All I can think of is, we’ve been through a lot with the country like Brexit and Covid…”, she said before Mark interjected: “Are you blaming Brexit for knife crime?

“You think people are going around with machetes because of Brexit?”

Nickell-Turner responded: “If you think back to that time, it was incredibly divisive. Referendums bring out the extremes and division.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Liz Truss ATTACKS Rachel Reeves's plan to give bureaucrats more powerFarage wonders 'whether truth is being withheld from us' after Southport stabbingsSouthport stabbings: Local reporter says 'whole community is heartbroken' after attacks

“There is obviously something that has led to the behaviour we are seeing now.

“I would say it is Brexit, followed by Covid and followed by being absolutely broke.

“These are little stepping stones, but Brexit divided us and it put us against each other. It sewed the seeds of division.”

Mark told Nickell-Turner the argument put forward was “the most absurd thing I have heard in my life.”

“I don’t think Brexit has caused people to go around with machetes”, he added.

“This is a new nadir for Brexit derangement syndrome. I think it’s poverty, inequality, I think it’s young people without a stake in society, I think it’s drug abuse and the drug industry, I think it’s gangs, I also think it’s woke policing.

“Cops are more focused on spending money on rainbow flags for their cars and visiting people in their houses for an unkind Facebook post.”

Nickell-Turner branded the latter point “woke derangement syndrome” as the pair came to verbal blows.

Last night, Essex Police said they put a section 60 dispersal order in place, which gives officers powers to exercise stop and searches, after reports of violence at around 7pm.

A video was shared on social media appearing to show at least four people dressed in black brandishing large knives near the Adventure Island theme park.

Section 60 powers allow a constable in uniform to stop and search any pedestrian or anything carried by them, any vehicle, its driver and passengers, for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments.