Susanna Reid stepped in during a heated studio clash on Monday's Good Morning Britain as regular contributors Kevin Maguire and Gillian Keegan argued over the topic of slavery. The exchange, which centred on King Charles's Caribbean tour, left some viewers frustrated, with one posting on X: "This is unlistenable with them shouting over each other."
King's Caribbean Tour Sparks Debate
Susanna and co-host Ed Balls spoke to Kevin and Gillian about the King's Caribbean tour, which is nearing its end. Buckingham Palace has said the King is set to speak with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow" on the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade during the final leg of his tour in Antigua.
"He is to speak with unflinching honesty and sincere sorrow on the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade. He's going to address Commonwealth leaders tomorrow," Susanna shared on GMB, reports the Mirror. She noted that the prime minister has already said he is open to the possibility of the UK formally apologising for its role in the slave trade, possibly with some kind of aid package rather than reparations.
Clash Over Apology and Reparations
Kevin replied: "The fact that he hasn't apologised or said sorry is a stain on Britain, because it is a gruesome part of our country's past." Ed noted that Tony Blair, David Cameron and Rishi Sunak have come close to apologising but have always feared that moving from regret or sorrow to apology would raise the question of what to do about it.
Gillian then said: "I think Andy Burnham has actually been irresponsible. The King is out there on a diplomatic mission, and he is out there having to carefully tread this line, and there's no doubt about it, he will have to carefully tread this line. And they will have thought long and hard about it. And here [Andy Burnham] is over in the UK, opening his big mouth not once, but twice. Twice he's doubled down."
Kevin Presses Gillian on Blair's Apology
Kevin swiftly fired back, asking: "Was Tony Blair wrong to apologise for the potato famine and the role of the UK?" Gillian replied: "To be honest, I don't have a strong view one way or the other." Kevin repeatedly pressed her: "Was he? Was he? Was he wrong? Yes or no? But you know about the Caribbean and black people there who are enslaved from Africa. You know about that, but not about all these white Irish people."
Susanna promptly intervened, saying: "Hang on, Kevin. Let Gillian respond." Gillian continued: "What is the point of an apology that is slightly meaningless?" As Kevin kept pushing back, Gillian responded: "You do this every time. Nobody condones any part of the slave trade at all," before Kevin simply replied: "So, why don't you confront it? Instead of running away."
Viewers React on Social Media
Viewers wasted no time in venting their frustration following the heated exchange. One user posted on X: "The f****** noise. Utter s**** TV." A third fumed: "Switching this off." Yet another wrote: "Stop talking over everyone!" However, not everyone was unhappy, with one viewer rallying behind Kevin, writing: "Go @Kevin_Maguire. Your comments on #Slavery are spot on."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am.
