Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg turned tense as Yvette Cooper appeared.

Yvette Cooper struggled to get her answers out on Laura Kuenssberg (Image: BBC)

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg turned fraught as the BBC political journalist clashed with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. In a tense debate over Keir Starmer’s reaction to the conflict with Iran, Laura was accused of consistently speaking over Cooper as she tried to push her for answers on the UK’s next move. Starmer had sparked backlash after he initially didn’t allow the US to use UK airbases in it’s conflict with Iran, before he eventually changed his mind, sparking fury from Donald Trump.

In one tense moment, Cooper abruptly shut Kuenssberg down as she repeatedly asked her if the UK was at war, asking: “Are we at war? So we’re not at war?” She said: “We are providing defensive support in a conflict and that is the way to describe it. We want to see resolution of this conflict swiftly as possible.”

She then categorically refused to comment any further, as it was regarding national security, saying: “I think that you’re trying to get into discussions of matters of national security, which I am not going to comment on. I will tell you my view – I strongly support the PM’s decisions and that is my strong view.

Laura Kuenssberg repeatedly pushed for an answer (Image: BBC)

“I think he has taken the right decision in the UK’s national interest and I think that is what the British public would expect.”

As Laura pushed for answers, frustrated viewers took to social media to hit out at Laura for “constantly interrupting” her while she was trying to answer. One said: “VERY poor Interview by @bbclaurak this morning – Questions were predictable and gave Cooper the opportunity to iterate the pre-written responses.”

Another added: “Don’t think I’ve ever heard Laura aggressively and repeatedly interrupt an interviewee as much as she has the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today.”

A third agreed: “Laura, it is much more helpful to allow Yvette Cooper to speak rather than continually interrupt her in your zest to get a comment on Trump’s latest ill advised social media post.”

A fourth raged: “The infuriating @bbclaurak still insists on talking over her guests rather than listening to them. They show such grit putting up with it.”

But others hit out at Cooper for her “weak” answers, as one said: “Yvette Cooper represents this governments pathetic response to the war against Iran and her comments about “it’s not in the UK’s interests to stand with Trump” is disrespectful.”

Another agreed: “So @YvetteCooperMP on #BBCLauraK another one who would do f all to #defend us & #Cyprus Pathetic! #Labour pathetic #weak #spineless.”

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg airs Sundays at 9am on BBC1