ITV have been accused of biased reporting after their presenter Ed Balls mistook Jonathan Ashworth to be a serving Labour MP, before joking: “I think you're still there. You should be!”
Balls, a former Labour cabinet member and husband to current Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, was interviewing Jonathan Ashworth, a former Labour MP and shadow cabinet member, about Rachel Reeves’ budget on Good Morning Britain.
He asked: “I bet Jonathan was sitting in the House of Commons Chamber when that one was announced and did you slightly wonder, I hope they’ve worked out the detail on that?”
Ashworth has not been an MP since the General Election, however, something a smirking Kwarteng appeared to realise first before laughter spread around the panel.
Attempting to save the situation, Balls said: “Oh my god! I think you’re still there! You should be.”
Many voters have highlighted the clip as showing Balls’ inherent bias and, as anchor of one of the ITV’s biggest programmes - the bias of the channel.
Comedian and actress Sooz Kempner wrote: “This reeks. It’s not professional.”
Other social media users said: “ITV, the place where failed politicians get to live out their post-election failure dressed up as being useful to any sort of conversation.”
Another added: “As a ‘presenter’ Ed Balls should be hauled over the coals for such unprofessional conduct. Ashworth is like David Brent turning up at the office every day after being made redundant.”
LATEST FROM MEMBERSHIP:
- 'Our viewers deserve answers!' Stephen and Ellie speak of frustration as Rachel Reeves agrees to Ed Balls interview
- Martin Daubney asks for your views on Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris election ahead of live Q&A
- 'Jenrick fails to grasp that Britain cannot be governed in isolation' - Nigel Nelson
Good Morning Britain clip on the budget
Jonathan Ashworth served as a Labour MP from 2011 to 2024 when he became one of just four Labour MPs to lose their seats in the July General Election.
He lost his seat to an independent candidate running a pro-Gaza campaign, as did two other Labour incumbents.
The fourth incumbent to lose was Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who lost to Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer in Bristol Central.
Balls’ latest gaffe comes after Ofcom were flooded with complaints for his interviewing of his own wife Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, on August 5.
Ofcom received a whopping 8,201 complaints regarding the interview which viewers labelled ‘ridiculous’, ‘beyond embarrassing’ and a ‘conflict of interest that even a five-year-old could spot’.
Balls and Cooper have been married for 26 years and have three children.
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant also made GB News headlines today as Chancellor Rachel Reeves decided to appear on his Good Morning Britain show rather than the People's Channel.
Find Out More...