Good Morning Britain slammed with hundreds of Ofcom complaints over Nigel Farage clash
GOOD Morning Britain has been slammed with hundreds of Ofcom complaints over last week’s Nigel Farage clash.
Reform UK leader Nigel, 60, butted heads with Susanna Reid, 53, and Ed Balls, 57, when he appeared on the ITV breakfast show as part of his campaign trail.
Speaking via video link, the politican was grilled by the anchors over his party’s manifesto and candidates’ social media activity.
But 471 viewers were left outraged by the way he was treated in the interview and filed complaints with the broadcasting regulator.
Things began to get heated when Susanna asked him: “How can you defend 41 candidates for your party found to be social media friends with a fascist leader?”
Nigel replied: “Most of our candidates are not political sophisticates. Having said that, like the Green Party and, like other parties, we’ve had one or two slip through the net that shouldn’t have done.
“There will be a story coming out at lunchtime today, where you will hear that we paid a very large sum of money to a reputable vetting company who didn’t do the work.
“So yes, we’ve got one or two problems but people like each other on Facebook and I’m sorry, I just don’t take that seriously.”
The conversation quickly turned to one particular candidate, who had apologised for saying “the country would be far better” if the country hadn’t fought in World War II.
Nigel said: “In a free society, people are allowed to have different opinions. I disagree vehemently that we should not have participated in World War II but once your name is on the ballot paper, it can’t be removed.”
Elsewhere, former Labour MP Ed quizzed him on tax, asking who would gain the most from raising the threshold for income tax to £20,000 and inheritance tax to £2million.
Growing frustrated, Nigel complained: “This is so typical,” accusing him of “playing silly games”.
Susanna stepped in to say: “What do you mean this is so typical, being asked questions and asked to answer them?”
Furthering his feud with Susanna, the GB News host beat her in accepting a TRIC Award yesterday, along with Matt Chorley and Eamonn Holmes.
However, as he made his way to the stage, the I’m A Celebrity star was faced with growing boos from the audience over faint cheers.
Laughing off the jeers from the crowd, Nigel joked: “I notice much less hostility than we had last year.”
He went on to say: “GB News Breakfast has won.
“And I’ve won, second year in a row, news presenter of the year and that says to you that GB News is here to stay as a mainstream news broadcaster in this country.”
Nigel added that his reality TV stint was short-lived as he sets his sights on winning a seat in the General Election.