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Ed Balls locked horns with Health Minister Karin Smyth on Good Morning Britain this morning.
Smyth, 61, appeared on GMB this morning to discuss the government’s plans for the NHS with Susanna Reid and Ed Balls.
However, with the autumn budget set to be announced on Wednesday, Balls asked her if the manifesto promises were set to be upheld.
As she continued to dodge the questions, Ed interrupted, repeatedly, even asking her at one point why she chose to come on the show, knowing she wouldn’t give a straight answer.
At one point in the fiery exchange, Balls said: ‘I’m simply asking you, can you repeat this morning?
‘Is the government lying today that you can repeat the tax pledges from the manifesto? That’s a simple yes or no. And I would like you to tell me that those tax pledges are still intact and repeat them or not. Your choice,’ he said.
Smyth replied: ‘I’m not going to talk about anything to do with tax today, the day before the budget, I understand where you’re leading me to…’
She was cut off as Balls said: ‘I’m not asking you to tell me anything about what’s in the budget, I’m simply asking you to tell me whether the manifesto –
‘Did Rachel Reeves say last night that the manifesto pledges stand, as she said two months ago or not?’
Smyth commented: ‘I wasn’t at the entire meeting last night, the meeting that I was for when I when I arrived, the focus was on, yeah, rallying the troops, talking ahead of Wednesday, the sorts of broad Brush issues that she will be addressing tomorrow.’
Reid then supported Balls’ line of inquiry by adding at the end of the segment: ‘It’s interesting your answer, because, of course, what Ed was asking you was absolutely not about anything to do with tomorrow. It was about something you promised to the electorate and were elected on last July. It was about the manifesto.’
Viewers were unimpressed on social media, with many taking to X to complain that it was a ‘car crash’ interview, as Smyth was unable to answer his questions.
‘Karin Smyth has been absolutely destroyed by Ed Balls this morning. That interview was a car crash #GMB #Labour,’ said CampionNorwich on X.
‘Another car crash interview by a inept labour minister on GMB,’ said superchip2010.
‘@karinsmyth on #GMB what a car crash interview. Can’t answer a simple question like ‘Does the manifesto pledges stand, or not?’. I tend to agree with @edballs what’s the point on her giving interviews? Moving onto health, it’s just waffle,’ said JulianPT158.
However, others were unimpressed with Balls, suggesting that he should have given Smyth more time to respond, rather than speaking over her.
‘Why is he shouting? Of course, they won’t answer anything about the budget the day before! Stop wasting time by pushing the same question and being aggressive in the process #gmb #goodmorningbritain,’ said FlopsyPickle.
‘They don’t answer questions because you don’t allow them to speak without being interrupted. #gmb,’ said Anthony08876880.
‘God they really are just trying for a gotcha #gmb,’ said DearFrankl33847.
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