Good Morning Britain has found itself at the centre of a viewer storm following a contentious interview with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. The Labour politician appeared on the ITV breakfast show on the morning of Thursday, 27th November 2025, to discuss the details of her 2025 Budget, announced just the day before.
Viewer Backlash Over Perceived Bias
The interview, conducted by hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, quickly drew fierce criticism on social media. A significant number of viewers expressed their anger, claiming that Ed Balls' involvement was inappropriate due to his close ties to the current Labour government.
Balls served as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Labour party from 2011 to 2015 during his time as an MP. Furthermore, his wife, Yvette Cooper, is the current Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet. The couple have been married since 1998.
One incensed viewer took to X, formerly Twitter, stating: "#GMB Ed Balls should not be interviewing his wife’s colleague who she sat next to on the front bench yesterday; he is an ex-Labour Chancellor and is pro Reeves agenda. He’s biased."
Another directly called for regulatory action, tweeting: "Ed Balls should not be on #gmb too close to Labour and his previous role with them. #ofcom this is unacceptable." Further comments highlighted the perceived discomfort of the situation, with one user noting how "uncomfortable" Balls looked during the exchange.
The Budget Announcement and OBR Leak
The controversy overshadowed the substantive discussion about the 2025 Budget itself. During her speech on Wednesday, 26th November, Chancellor Reeves unveiled significant new policies, including the abolition of the two-child benefit cap and the introduction of a new 'mansion tax' targeting high-value properties.
The budget reveal was itself preceded by an unexpected leak. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) accidentally published its full analysis of the Chancellor's plans online moments before she began her speech in the House of Commons.
An angry Rachel Reeves later described the premature release as "deeply disappointing" and "a serious error on their part". The OBR issued a swift apology, confirming a "technical error" had caused a link to their economic outlook to go live too early. The body has initiated an investigation into the incident and has promised to report its findings to the Treasury and the Commons Treasury Committee.
Despite the furore, Good Morning Britain continues to air weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
