Good Morning Britain viewers criticised presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley for repeatedly interrupting Prime Minister Andy Burnham during his first live interview on the ITV programme.
The interview aired on Monday, October 26, as Burnham approaches his 100th day in office on October 27. During the discussion, the presenters asked whether Burnham planned to hold another general election and about his hopes to rejoin the EU within his lifetime.
Viewers React to Interview Style
Many viewers took to X to complain that the pair interrupted the Prime Minister while he was answering questions and repeatedly asked him the same thing.
One person said: "That interview was appalling. Both Presenters spent a large % of it simply interrupting Andy Burnham. Bad manners." Another wrote: "Stop bl**dy interrupting him, Richard and Susanna! Appalling interview etiquette."
A third added: "How many times do you want him to answer the same question?? #gmb " While someone else shared: "This is a disastrous interview. Richard and Susanna, if you want Andy Burnham to answer your questions, stop bl**dy interrupting him!"
Some Praise for the Prime Minister
However, some viewers praised the interview. One person commented: "Brilliant performance from the Prime Minister, reassuring and competent. We're finally getting somewhere." Another added: "Great interview, PM well done @andyburnham! @GMB "
During the discussion, Reid asked: "Are you softening us all up for a general election?" Burnham replied: "No, I've ruled that out. I don't..." Cutting in, Reid asked if he had "absolutely" ruled it out, as the Prime Minister stated he had. He added: "I just don't think people want another backwards-looking squabble; they want me to get on with the job and make life better for people, which is what I'm trying to do."
EU Rejoining Question
Later, Reid highlighted that while he does not want to look back at past arguments, he has recently brought up rejoining the EU. Burnham replied: "We have a decade of experience now looking back at Brexit. I don't think it has played out as people said it would at the time.
"We got a harder Brexit than what was proposed in the referendum campaign. It's weakened our economy, it's also weakened our control of immigration, and that might surprise people because that was the big issue."
He clarified that he was not proposing rejoining in this Parliament, stating they were "way away from that" at this particular moment. He told Reid and Madeley: "What I am saying is we need to take some practical steps to make the arrangement work better than the arrangement we've got right now."
Cutting in, Reid highlighted that 65 per cent of his own constituents voted to leave the EU. She told the Prime Minister that he promised them when he stood as their MP that he would not reopen this argument, questioning if he has let them down or that they made the wrong choice.
He replied: "I said we wouldn't rerun the referendum and that's not what I'm doing. The British public, the people of Makerfield, will be the bosses here; they will decide what happens in relation to Brexit..." The Prime Minister was cut off once again by Reid, who stated that they had already decided following their vote in 2016. Madeley said Burnham was "testing the mood" to see the reaction from the public and media, to see whether people want to rejoin the EU.
He replied: "I was asked a question, Richard, so I didn't fly that kite. I was asked and I try to give honest answers. I don't think things have worked out as people said they would at the time."
Good Morning Britain is available to watch weekdays on ITV from 6am.
