John Healey Faces ‘Hypocrite’ Backlash After Thanking GB News Fundraisers

John Healey has drawn a divided response after thanking GB News viewers for raising more than £724,000 for a charity supporting homeless veterans. The politician appeared in a message praising the appeal, which was launched on air by presenter Patrick Christys during the period leading up to Remembrance and Armistice Day. In the clip, Healey congratulated the programme and its audience, saying he had worked with Help4HomelessVeterans for nearly a decade and had seen the charity’s efforts make a difference. He said the organisation had recently secured its first home for veterans without housing, offering them a place to begin rebuilding their lives. Healey added that the money raised could help fund two more homes. He thanked viewers both as Chancellor of the Exchequer and as a local MP who, he said, had worked closely with the charity. The fundraiser reportedly brought in more than £700,000 in a single week. The message did not win universal approval online. Some viewers called Healey a “hypocrite” and criticised the government’s record on homelessness, with one arguing that a thank-you video could not replace action. Others accused him of using the appeal to improve Labour’s standing with GB News viewers, while several comments contrasted support for veterans with other government priorities. There were also voices welcoming his recognition of the campaign. GB News journalist Christopher Hope praised viewers for raising the sum, and Christys thanked the audience while noting that Healey had reached out despite political differences. The reaction, as reported by the source, ranged from sharp criticism of the politician to appreciation for the funds raised for homeless veterans.