Good Morning Britain viewers praised Kate Garraway for her “stellar” timing in asking Suella Braverman a pointed question during Thursday's (1 October) episode. The former Conservative MP, who defected to Reform UK at the start of this year, appeared on the ITV programme to promote her new memoir.
The show was hosted by Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway, who began: “You could say she’s one of the most controversial politicians of the moment, I mean, there’s quite a bit of competition.”
Braverman discusses her heritage
The former Home Secretary spoke about her heritage and her family’s journey, with her new memoir following those themes, including her first chapter, ‘Where are you really from?’
Answering a question on GMB, she said: “I worked with a historian to go back over 100 years to identify some of my ancestral roots and we found that one of my ancestors came under the British Empire from India to Mauritius.”
She explained how her ancestor was part of a wave of migration in the 1800s, after the abolition of slavery, and worked on sugar plantations under the British. She said: “Generation by generation, you see the trajectory of progress and development, thanks to the British empire.
“And that’s one reason why I wrote this book, there’s a popular narrative that the British empire was evil and oppressive and that British history is something to be ashamed of, my experience, and that of my family’s is very different.
“The women were educated, the vote was granted, the island like Mauritius, for example, was dramatically transformed through industrialisation, innovation, engineering, infrastructure, and actually members of my own family benefitted hugely from the British empire.”
Viewers react to the question
After hearing her explanation, Kate kept a straight face as she asked: “So you’re pro-migration?”
Braverman appeared to be thrown by the question, laughing it off before replying: “Not today. In 2026, in the 21st century, no, we have far too much immigration into this country.”
She went on to claim that illegal migration was “out of control”, but viewers were already distracted by Kate’s question. As the clip was shared on social media, one person wrote: “Best @kategarraway.”
Another said: “Does anyone else think Kate’s face said it all…” Another agreed, writing: “My first thought exactly on seeing this clip.”
Someone else praised Kate’s “stellar timing”, while another wrote: “The question..."so you're pro immigration" was genius. Very well timed and placed.” “Kate doing god’s work,” another person said.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
