Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch appeared on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain (October 29) to discuss the latest budget announcement from John Healey with hosts Ranvir Singh and Paul Brand. The conversation quickly turned to the EU and whether Badenoch would consider rejoining, following Andy Burnham's remarks that he wants to return within his lifetime.
Host presses on EU membership
Brand asked: "Just returning to Brexit for a moment because Andy Burnham says that is one of the reasons why our economy is weaker, in his view. Would you ever countenance rejoining the EU?"
As she promptly answered no, Brand cut across her asking: "Never? Can I be clear, though, never?" Badenoch replied: "We are not going back into the EU. I cannot believe that we're even having this discussion."
The GMB presenter interrupted the MP as he persisted in asking if she was entirely ruling out the possibility of ever rejoining the EU. She continued: "We had this.."
Badenoch fires back at repeated questions
Cutting in, Brand asked once more: "Kemi Badenoch, you're not saying never, are you? Can you just be really clear with me, ever?" She replied: "I have been really clear, you're asking me to repeat myself. I've already been clear."
"The fact is, we had lots of people say, 'Once we leave the EU, all the problems will be solved'. We're doing it again, 'Once we join the EU, everything will be fine'. We have problems that we can fix now. We can do a lot. We need to cut our welfare budget. We don't need to join the EU to do those things. There's a lot that we can do."
She went on to say: "What we see is politicians that don't have any answers start talking about, 'Let's join, let's leave, let's join' as if that's going to fix this."
Yet the ITV host refused to let the matter drop, pressing her once more on whether she would admit to "never ever" rejoining the EU.
Leader dismisses debate as wasteful
Badenoch fired back: "I literally said it, Paul, I literally said it. We are not going back into the EU. I know you're looking for.."
Brand cut across the Conservative leader, insisting he wanted to hear her personal stance on the issue. She shot back: "I wasn't an MP when we left the European Union. I know what you're trying to do, but the fact is, your viewers are out there, they're watching and thinking, 'How am I going to pay my energy bills? Am I going to get a job?'
"This political class conversation about rejoining the EU, which Andy Burnham is starting, is completely ridiculous. It is a waste of time, he thinks it's going to be helpful because all he cares about is an election."
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 6am.
