Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has faced backlash from viewers after a tense exchange with Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday's programme. The interview, which also featured co-host Ed Balls, quickly escalated into a shouting match over the upcoming by-election in Clacton, following Nigel Farage's resignation as MP.
Clash over by-election legitimacy
The dispute began when Ed Balls asked whether the Conservative Party was "bottling" the by-election by not standing a candidate. Kemi Badenoch responded: "We will be standing a candidate in the real by-election, Ed. What we will not be doing is standing a candidate in Nigel Farage's fake by-election."
Susanna Reid immediately interrupted, saying: "Ok, that makes no sense to people watching." Badenoch then explained that Farage's resignation was a "gimmick" to avoid scrutiny over his finances, making the by-election "fake." Reid countered: "You're not even turning up to the by-election which has been called. It's a real by-election!" raising her voice as the two argued back and forth.
Viewer backlash on social media
The heated exchange prompted a wave of criticism on X (formerly Twitter), with many viewers accusing Reid of bias and aggressive questioning. One user wrote: "Susanna Reid was shouting over Kemi Badenoch and not letting her speak. Terrible interviewing." Another commented: "Ed Balls and Susanna Reid are a disgrace. They need to learn how to conduct an interview without interrupting."
The incident has reignited debates about impartiality on Good Morning Britain, with some calling for the programme to review its interview format. According to a spokesperson for ITV, the network has not yet commented on the controversy.
Context of the by-election
Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton on 1 July 2026, triggering a by-election. The Conservative Party has announced it will not field a candidate, citing the ongoing investigation into Farage's finances. Reform UK has accused the Tories of avoiding a contest, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats have confirmed they will stand.
Kemi Badenoch defended her party's decision, stating: "We are not going to legitimise a gimmick. The real issues facing Clacton deserve a proper election, not a distraction." Susanna Reid's repeated interruptions led to a visibly frustrated Badenoch, who at one point said: "Susanna, if you let me finish, I can explain."
