Labour MP Angela Eagle told a radio presenter to "get a life" during a chaotic interview that drew heavy criticism from listeners. The Minister for the Environment was appearing on Times Radio's breakfast show with host Stig Abell to discuss a new water regulation policy, but the conversation descended into chaos as she refused to expand on what those measures were.
Interview descends into chaos
Despite Abell persistently probing her about the issue, which is included in a Labour Party press release, Eagle repeatedly said the measures were a first step to making water companies more accountable. As she stammered her way through the chat, avoiding the question, listeners and Abell's colleagues took to X to criticise her.
Abell's co-host Kate McCann, who was sitting in the studio beside him, wrote: "I don't think I've ever heard an interview like the one Angela Eagle is currently giving on @TimesRadio. The minister just told @StigAbell to 'get a life'."
Listeners react on social media
Another listener wrote: "Absolute car crash interview from @angelaeagle on #TimesRadio. Why come on to the radio with a press release and then not want to/be able to talk about it!"
A third chimed in: "...A doddery and confused Angela Eagle, the Environment Secretary, is giddy with excitement about the new powers of regional water councils, but the stupid bat can't name those powers. Remarkable. CAR CRASH...."
Yet another listener admitted they had no clue what the measures she was promoting were. "Listening to Angela Eagle this morning, it wasn't clear what, if any, powers these regional water authorities will have to force performance and upgrades out of the water companies. We risk another set of expensive quangos of which Labour are famous for. Where is OFWAT in all this?" they asked.
Clash over Brussels directive
Alongside the issues about her water regulation policy, Eagle became visibly agitated with Abell when he raised the issue of the UK possibly signing up to a new Brussels directive banning the use of meat descriptions on vegetarian food, like smoky bacon crisps and chicken Pot Noodles.
Abell asked the minister: "Would you be happy if closer realignment with the EU meant the banning of smoky bacon crisps or the banning of the labelling of smoky bacon crisps?"
Eagle replied: "Oh Stig, I mean really we've had EU straight bananas and now we're talking about banning smoky bacon crisps. I think you should get a life. This is actually about ensuring that we can do business with our closest neighbours. We've got a huge potential growth in our economy if we allow our farmers and food producers to be able to export into Europe again without all the huge uncertainty and the costs and frictions that Brexit brought us."
She added: "This will be a deal that improves that situation and it will enable this economy to grow and for us to have higher levels of prosperity than we've had before. If you want to obsess about smoky bacon crisps, I suppose that's your choice."
A fifth listener enquired: "Why is @angelaeagle bothering to do an interview on @timesradio? What a waste of time. Patronising the interviewer is never a good vibe."
A sixth listener, who watched and listened to her across multiple channels, was equally unimpressed: "I've listened to Angela Eagle on Times Radio, Sky News and LBC so far this morning. She's been sent out to discuss a new water regulation policy but, from what I can tell, she doesn't know what she's promoting. Genuinely, not a clue."
They added: "Under very tame questioning, it appears that local councils might have powers to speak to water bosses ... or maybe not. Regional areas cannot enforce laws around water regulations ... or perhaps they might be able to ... but probably not. There is not one shred of substance to this 'announcement,' and she's sold it terribly."
