Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls announced breaking news on Monday, June 22, regarding Sir Keir Starmer's term as Prime Minister, with the show extended to 10am for rolling coverage.
Downing Street Preparations
Cameras had been set up outside Downing Street all morning, and Susanna hinted that major news could break while the programme was on-air. Ed stated: "Newspapers would not be reporting it, and BBC and ITV would not be saying this on camera without any correction from 10 Downing Street unless it is true."
Susanna added: "Is Sir Keir Starmer announcing his resignation this morning? That could happen while we are on air, he could set out a timetable for his departure, and Carol Vorderman will tell us why she thinks Andy Burnham will be the Prime Minister."
Rolling Coverage Takes Over Lorraine
As Downing Street prepared the podium for a highly anticipated statement, Susanna confirmed: "We are now in rolling news mode, we will be on air until 10am this morning because we've anticipated it all morning." The extended coverage replaced Lorraine Kelly's usual 9.30am slot.
Susanna and Ed spoke to Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, who regularly appears on GMB, as well as ITV's Robert Peston and Carol Vorderman.
Pressure Mounts on Starmer
Baroness Smith earlier told Times Radio: "My understanding from those I've spoken to who are close to the Prime Minister yesterday is that the Prime Minister has spent the weekend thinking really carefully about the future of the country, about what's the best thing to do for the British people. He's also, by the way, been, of course, engaged in government, responding to the terrible train crash, talking to the chief executive of the East Midlands Ambulance Service, responding to the attack in Edinburgh."
She added: "But he always thinks carefully about the future of this country and the interests of the British people – he puts them, by the way, ahead of the interests of the party – and he will make his own decisions in the light of what obviously everybody can see is a considerable amount of pressure and turbulence."
By-Election Catalyst
Pressure had been mounting for Sir Keir to resign, despite his vow to remain Prime Minister on Friday. Reports of his departure began emerging after Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
