Wes Streeting clashes with BBC Radio 4 presenter as he calls for under-16 social media ban

PoliticsTechnology
27 May 2026 • 12:27 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Wes Streeting clashes with BBC Radio 4 presenter as he calls for under-16 social media ban

Wes Streeting clashed with a BBC Radio 4 presenter after she questioned him on his push for an under-16s social media ban.

On Monday (25 May), the former health secretary likened “addictive” tech companies to the tobacco industry in his first intervention on the issue since he quit the Cabinet.

Discussing the issue further on the Today programme, host Anna Foster grilled Mr Streeting on why he only called for the full ban following his resignation. “Your words were not as strong as they are today,” she said.

The two clashed after Mr Streeting said he was now in a position to call for a ban after being “liberated from the obligations of collective responsibility”.