Good Morning Britain fans were seething as they took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to slam former politician Ed Balls.
During Tuesday’s instalment of the ITV daytime programme, Ed, 57, looked rather sheepish as he appeared on the panel alongside Susanna Reid, 53, to discuss winter fuel cuts.
His wife Yvette Cooper, who has served as Home Secretary since July, recently voted to cut winter fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners who do not receive pension credit.
And while Ed discussed the topic, viewers of the show took to X to rage that he shouldn’t be involved in political debates due to his marriage and called for him to be removed from the show.
One viewer wrote: ‘Why the f*** is Ed Balls still on #GoodMorningBritain @ITV? He’s bloody useless. There are tons of actual journalists out there who could do the job better. They wouldn’t be sitting there like a lemon whilst the co-anchor interviews their wife, mates, former colleagues etc.’
Good Morning Britain fans were seething as they took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to slam former politician Ed Balls
During Tuesday’s instalment of the ITV daytime programme, Ed, 57, looked rather sheepish as he appeared on the panel alongside Susanna Reid , 53, to discuss winter fuel cuts
His wife Yvette Cooper, who has served as Home Secretary since July, recently voted to cut winter fuel payments for around 10 million pensioners who do not receive pension credit
‘Eye for an eye and get rid of Ed Balls to even the score then.’; ‘Is it just me but I really can’t watch gmb when Ed Balls is on it. He is terrible asking questions I just have to switch over to BBC.’
Another raged: ‘I am just sick of Balls. Hasn’t he twigged that his wife is a very senior member of the government he is constantly undermining.’; ‘Ed balls very quiet on winter fuel cuts. His wife actually voted for the cuts and put pensioners’ at risk this winter.’
Susanna also paused the programme to deliver some breaking news and informed viewers that the UK economy showed no growth at all in July for the second month in a row.
She continued with details from recent official figures, stating: ‘According to official figures published in the last hour, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said tough measures are needed in next month’s budget to help plug, what she said, is a £22 billion black hole in the public finances.’
The fresh backlash comes after ITV defended allowing Ed Balls to interview his wife Yvette on Good Morning Britain.
The broadcaster come under fire after the former Labour cabinet minister – who is now a regular presenter on the ITV breakfast show – grilled his own wife in her role as the home secretary.
A spokesperson for GMB said: ‘Following a weekend of rioting and national unrest, GMB featured a range of interviews and discussion around this national emergency on today’s programme which included James Cleverly, shadow home secretary, and Yvette Cooper, home secretary.’
‘We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial.’
GMB was branded ’embarrassing to the extreme’ by viewers after Ed interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper in a ‘huge conflict of interests’.
Ed interviewed Home Secretary Yvette alongside Kate Garraway, 57, about the riots across the UK and asked what the police, government and social media sites should be doing.
And while Ed discussed the topic, viewers of the show took to X to rage that he shouldn’t be involved in political debates due to his marriage and called for him to be removed from the show
Ed and Kate questioned Yvette on the government’s refusal to label the riots ‘Islamophobic’, as posed earlier in the programme by Zarah Sultana.
Yvette began: ‘What we’ve seen on the streets of some cities and towns over the weekend frankly is criminal violence and thuggery.
‘That is what it is first and foremost, and that’s why it needs the full force of the law behind it.’
She added: ‘We have certainly seen some targeted attacks on mosques, and that clearly reflects Islamophobia.’
Ed said: ‘Can I ask, because we’ve talked about this a few times in the last few days – like many of our viewers will have done at home since those terrible killings in Southport – there have been identifiable individuals on social media who have been inciting not just riots but violence.’
‘They’ve been using racist language and falsehoods. This is happening on the social media platforms.’
Susanna also paused the programme to deliver some breaking news and informed viewers that the UK economy showed no growth at all in July for the second month in a row
‘What should be done by the social media companies and the police and the government to stop this happening? It’s been happening for a week.’
She replied: ‘Well you’re right, Ed. We have seen things appearing online that are clearly criminal.’
‘Social media has put rocket boosters under far-right extremist organisations and also some of the violence we have seen. Things that are criminal offline are also criminal online.’
Ofcom has recently examined the issue of politicians hosting current affair programme after a debate over Nigel Farage’s appearances on GB News during the general election campaign.
The regulator has ruled that while the British public is ‘instinctively uncomfortable’ with the practice, there wasn’t a ‘clear consensus for an outright ban’.
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in such a compromising position on X, formerly Twitter.
It comes after ITV defended allowing Ed Balls to interview his wife Yvette on Good Morning Britain
The broadcaster come under fire after the former Labour cabinet minister – who is now a regular presenter on the ITV breakfast show – grilled his own wife in her role as the home secretary
They wrote: ‘Does @GMB realise just how utterly ridiculous it looks by continuing to invite @edballs on as a presenter whilst he defends the actions of the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, his wife!?’
‘Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is asked why the govt hasn’t used the term ‘Islamophobic’. In her answer Cooper (finally) uses the word. As for husband interviewing wife, how does #GMB think this is tenable?’
‘Ed who’s just treated @zarahsultana with contempt for suggesting MSM plays it’s part in whipping up hate is about to interview his wife in an obvious conflict of interests even for a 5-year-old viewer. Stick to Kerry Katona and Strictly #Gmb’
‘Interesting that Ed Balls doesn’t interrupt his wife when interviewing but with other guests he does every 5 mins #gmb #goodmorningbritain’
A spokesperson for GMB said: ‘We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial’
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in that position on X, formerly Twitter
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper
‘Ed Balls is going to interview his wife? How is this @GMB being impartial and NOT a huge conflict of interest, embarrassing in the extreme… and he hasn’t talked to the home secretery about her job and the situation… really? (sic)’
‘Is it really appropriate that Ed Balls is hosting news coverage directly concerning the response to the protests of his wife and the government she is a part of?’
‘Sorry this is insane! You can’t have Ed Balls on a program ‘interviewing’ his own wife, what a stupid stupid editorial decision! I can’t believe Yvette Cooper went along with this!’
‘Why is Yvette Cooper’s husband (Ed Balls) allowed to defend her abysmal handling of the race riots? I’m not sure this is allowed?’;
‘I don’t think Ed Balls should be interviewing Yvette Cooper on GMB. They’re a married couple. It’s ridiculous.’
‘Surely good practice would mean that Ed Balls should not be on a programme that is featuring his wife, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper . Get it sorted @gmb.’
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper.
