Good Morning Britain viewers criticised a tense interview between Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and presenters Ranvir Singh and Paul Brand, with one calling the exchange "very uncomfortable" and another accusing Brand of "borderline hysteria".
During the October 29 episode of the ITV programme, the discussion moved from the recent budget announcement to Brexit and whether Badenoch would consider rejoining the European Union. The question followed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's recent expression of a desire to see Britain return to the EU during his lifetime.
Brand presses Badenoch on EU rejoining
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?"
When Badenoch promptly responded no, Brand cut across her, asking: "Never? Can I be clear, though, never?" She replied: "We are not going back into the EU. I cannot believe that we're even having this discussion."
The presenter then interrupted again, continuing to probe whether she was entirely ruling out the possibility of ever rejoining. She attempted to continue: "We had this.." Brand pressed: "Kemi Badenoch, you're not saying never, are you? Can you just be really clear with me, ever?" She answered: "I have been really clear, you're asking me to repeat myself. I've already been clear."
Badenoch dismisses 'political class conversation'
She added: "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: "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."
Despite this, Brand continued to press her, asking once more whether she would concede to "never ever" rejoining the EU. Badenoch responded: "I literally said it, Paul, I literally said it. We are not going back into the EU. I know you're looking for.."
Brand interrupted the Conservative leader, insisting he wanted to understand her personal position on the matter, according to the Mirror. She fired 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?'"
She continued: "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."
Viewers soon commented on the interview, with one person on X saying: "Please calm down Paul - very uncomfortable watching this morning - borderline hysteria at Kemi Badenoch." Another wrote: "OMG Who’s is this guy!! Why keep going on about brexit to Kemi. Let it go."
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 6am.
