Good Morning Britain (GMB) viewers have criticised its presenters and some of its guests after a "patronising" response to points being made by an MP on the show relating to the recent riots in the UK.
Zarah Sultana, an Independent MP for South Coventry, appeared on the show alongside Daily Mail consultant editor Andrew Pierce and former Labour MP Ben Bradshaw.
Hosts Kate Garraway and Ed Balls initiated a discussion surrounding recent violent disorder in the UK which has come in the wake of three girls being killed in a stabbing attack in Southport last Monday (July 29).
Far-right protestors have set fire to vehicles and buildings, smashed windows and targeted hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers in the last six days.
.@zarahsultana rightly says politicians should call whats happening as racist and Islamophobic.
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) August 5, 2024
Ed Balls forgets he's meant to be the interviewer and gets annoyed because politicians and the media are being held accountable for where we are now #GMB pic.twitter.com/w41ulJr9u0
Ms Sultana said it was important to label the disorder as racist and Islamophobic otherwise people would fail "to address what's really going on".
She added: "This shouldn't be a surprise that this has happened. There is decades of work by the right wing press and politicians who have fanned the flames of this hate."
Ms Sultana made reference to coverage from GB News and the front pages of the Daily Mail as part of this, which Mr Pierce tried to counter, asking for specific examples.
After that, the MP went on to say: "There are politicians and there are journalists who have played an active role and fanning the flames of hate and division and we are seeing that play out."
Here’s just a few examples of Daily Mail headlines that have fanned the flames of hate and normalised Islamophobic and anti-migrant rhetoric #GMB pic.twitter.com/kqzQqewnGk
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) August 5, 2024
She also made the point that there was a "direct correlation" between the language of the protestors against immigration and what has been used by politicians on the topic.
Ed Balls made attempts to push back against some of the points Ms Sultana made and criticism was aimed at the panel's response to her discussion by GMB viewers.
Good Morning Britain viewers criticise panel's response to Zahara Sultana
There was plenty of criticism aimed at how Andrew Pierce and Ed Balls responded to the points Ms Sultana made on the show.
One posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): "Jesus, how patronising are the rest of this panel".
Another shared: "i’m disgusted by how they’re dog pilling this girl when she’s defending a community under ATTACK! they’re literally arguing with her about calling these rioters islamaphobic for 10 mins".
Recommended reading:
- Government plan emergency Cobra meeting in response to escalating riots
- Keir Starmer warns 'violent' far-right mob 'you will regret this'
- 'Despicable scenes' across the UK as the far right 'spread violence and racism'
Meanwhile, another made a point that it felt it was like "4 against one".
One added: "Zarah Sultana speaking the truth on GMB and the presenters didn't want to hear it, which is part of the problem."
Not everyone was on board with this though, as one posted: "@zarahsultana has the inability to actually listen to anyone else!"
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel