ITV: GMB criticised for Ed Balls interview with Yvette Cooper

ITV Under Fire For Ball's Interview With Cooper's Wife

Ed Balls, shown with Kate Garraway, frequently hosts on Good Morning Britain.

ITV received backlash for featuring Ed Balls, host of Good Morning Britain, interviewing his spouse Yvette Cooper, who serves as the Home Secretary, during Monday's show.

The ex-Labour Member of Parliament, along with his co-host Kate Garraway, spoke with Cooper after the recent surge of violent protests throughout England.

In the past few days, police officers have been targeted in attacks, with some shops being looted and cars being set ablaze.

When some people said the interview was biased, a spokesperson from ITV told the BBC that they believe their interviews are fair and unbiased.

After a weekend of chaos and upheaval across the nation, GMB showcased various interviews and conversations about this urgent crisis on today's show," the broadcaster informed BBC News.

This group of people consisted of James Cleverly, who is the Shadow Home Secretary, and Yvette Cooper, who is the Home Secretary.

We are happy that these interviews were fair, balanced, and unbiased.

The show received negative feedback on social media after it was shown, with a few viewers saying it brought up concerns about unfairness and potential conflicts of interest.

Jake Kanter from Deadline reported on X: "'Coming up next, the home secretary, who Ed is married to, will be joining us soon.' This was actually said this morning on a television channel that is required to remain neutral."

"It's hard to understand how this was allowed to occur."

Additional viewers characterized the atmosphere of the interview as "ridiculous" and "impossible to maintain".

In the past week, authorities have encountered instances of aggression in areas such as Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Bristol, Bolton, and various parts of the United Kingdom.

Stores and accommodations have been vandalized, with vehicles and garbage cans being set ablaze as authorities were also assaulted.

The discussion on Monday's show happened before the government's urgent Cobra meeting. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has now revealed plans for a team of specialized police officers to deal with violent demonstrations.

The disturbance comes after a violent stabbing incident occurred in Southport last week, resulting in the tragic deaths of three children who were attending a dance class.

Cooper, shown in a photo from Saturday, has been married to Balls for over 25 years.

Balls and Cooper have been husband and wife since 1998, and have three kids.

In the beginning of the show, Balls informed Garraway that he had not encountered Cooper at all over the past week, during the aftermath of the riots.

"When these situations arise, and if you are in top government positions like prime minister or home secretary, your schedule becomes busy around the clock, every day of the week, making it challenging," he remarked.

When Garraway responded with, "Do you have legitimate inquiries that you require answers to?" He replied, "Certainly."

After Garraway started the interview, Balls said, "I wanted to bring up something we've discussed a lot lately, like many people watching at home have been doing since the tragic killings in Southport. There have been specific individuals on social media encouraging not only riots, but violence."

They have been using discriminatory words. They have been spreading lies about the events in Southport.

This is currently a major issue on social media platforms. What actions can be taken by social media companies, law enforcement, and the government to prevent this ongoing situation? It has been occurring for a week now.

Balls also asked Cooper if there has been a difference in how police have been handling the Gaza demonstrations compared to the previous week, suggesting that there may have been a more lenient approach to policing.

Cooper stated that law enforcement must work "without bias or special treatment, no matter the type of crimes they encounter."

Some people who watched the show didn't like a previous discussion that happened with Balls, Garraway, and Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

In the article, Sultana argued that labeling the actions of rioters as Islamophobic or racist is important.

Nadine White, who reports on race for The Independent, mentioned that Balls showed contempt towards her. She also pointed out that the other panelists, who she called "white commentators without firsthand knowledge of racism", came under fire for their comments.

BBC News reached out to a representative for Balls to provide a statement.

Hateful words against Muslims were spoken during the disturbances over the weekend, and attackers targeted mosques and hotels where asylum seekers were staying.

Balls served as a Labour Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2015, including a role as shadow chancellor. Following his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, he transitioned into a television personality.

He is one of the many different hosts who have taken turns hosting ITV's morning show in recent times. Richard Madeley, Adil Ray, and Robert Rinder have also presented the show since Piers Morgan left.

Balls made his debut as a guest host on Good Morning Britain in 2021 and became a regular member of their rotating host team the next year.