Labour minister Hamish Falconer struggled to articulate the government's Brexit "reset" strategy during a live Sky News interview, leaving anchor Sophy Ridge and viewers exasperated.
Falconer, the minister for intergovernmental relations and European relations, was invited to discuss the approach under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has expressed a desire to bring the UK "closer" to the European Union.
Interview takes a turn
Ridge asked Falconer how he would approach the talks differently from his predecessor, Nick Thomas-Symonds. Falconer replied that Nick and the previous prime minister did important work to reset relations, and he wanted to "consolidate some of that work" while going further, noting that the world and threats have changed.
Pressed on whether this constituted a reset, Falconer said: "Well, we have already had a reset. We have got to consolidate some of the progress that has been made." Ridge admitted confusion, saying: "I actually don't understand what that means."
Falconer's explanation
Falconer then attempted to clarify: "Consolidate means, in the areas where we think we can make further deals to make life easier for British businesses in particular – that’s things like how food is sold into the European Union and how our electricity systems interact with the European Union, how we interact with the carbon border adjustment mechanism."
Ridge responded: "It sounds pretty much the same, then, it doesn't sound any different."
Viewer backlash
The segment provoked strong reactions on social media. One viewer posted on X: "Hamish Falconer just subjected Sophy Ridge (and the entire country) to the most empty, circular, meaning-free waffle I’ve heard in years, leaving her and everyone watching totally baffled. I nearly nodded off the second he started name dropping the carbon border adjustment mechanism. Sophy deserves a medal for not yelling, 'Just answer the bloody question!' on live TV!"
Another commenter wrote: "This clown is my local MP. It’s tragic to think he represents me in Parliament."
