EXCLUSIVE: Ed Balls sparks outrage with three-word Yvette Cooper remark during tense GMB clash
Ed Balls reacted to his guest about who might be the next Chancellor (Image: ITV)
Tension exploded on Good Morning Britain, as a presenter questioned a guest over the potential candidate for Chancellor in the new Labour leader’s cabinet. Andy Burnham has effectively been confirmed as the new Labour leader with 349 of the party’s MPs having now nominated him to replace Keir Starmer.
Presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls were in the studio on Wednesday morning as they invited political commentator and journalist Kevin Maguire to discuss who could be the next Chancellor. With less than a week until Andy Burnham introduces his first cabinet, the race for the second most powerful job in the Government has intensified amid growing speculation that Rachel Reeves will be moved out of the Treasury.
In a heated discussion, Susanna asked Kevin: “Who does it mean might be his Chancellor? Do we know? If only, there’s someone we can ask, in the shape of Andy Burnham, to find out, but he says he won’t confirm or deny.”
Yvette Cooper emerged as a surprise contender (Image: Getty)
The journalist interrupted and said: “My 20p, for some time, rightly or wrongly, has been on Yvette Cooper. We don’t know anyone who knows her.”
Susanna then turned to her co-host, Ed, who raised hie eyebrows and said: “News to me.”
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Viewers were divided and one took to the social media, commenting: “Kevin Maguire: “My 20p, for some time, has been Yvette Cooper” Ed Balls: “News to me” Its treated as a joke.”
Another added: “GMB need to be taught the same lesson Sky news were taught. Keep being a party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party lose viewers in droves. As for loud mouth and yvette coppers husband Ed they are helping to destroy what used to be one of the best morning shows.”
GMB viewers also voiced their disagreement as they saw Kevin in the studio for the second day in a row. He suggested the Reform Party leader was using Ann Widdecombe’s death as a “diversion from rows over gifts and donations”.
He said: “There’s that by-election going on, why it’s become so intensely political and why there was so much pressure on the police because Reform, it’s quite clear, use the murder as a diversion from rows over the money.”
Should Yvette Cooper be moved to the Treasury, that would open up the Foreign Secretary role, potentially leading to a series of changes, which is why the line-up is unlikely to be finalised until the hours before Burnham takes over as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves is understood to be in line for a lesser Cabinet role, with culture and health both being discussed as possible destinations.
