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Ed Balls hit out at Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick after he was overheard calling their Good Morning Britain interview “a waste of time” live on air.
Balls and his co-host Susanna Reid spoke to Jenrick on Wednesday about the scandal surrounding Reform leader Nigel Farage’s £5 million gift from Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Jenrick - who had appeared via video call - said goodbye to the hosts at the end of their interview and was heard saying on his mic moments later: “That was a waste of time.”
There was a pause before Balls clapped back: “I think it wasn’t a waste of time.
“Robert Jenrick gave us very clear answers on the police investigation; it’s not a waste of time for him to make clear that he believes there’s no police investigation.”
He added: “It was good he came on the programme.”
Reid, who was seen looking nonplussed when Jenrick made the comment, said they were “very grateful for his time”.
Jenrick later re-shared a clip of the moment on X and blasted former Labour shadow chancellor Balls’ ties to the government.
“We’ve got Ed’s useless mates back in government, people are struggling, and he can’t be bothered to ask how Reform would do things differently,” he posted.
His hot mic comment on GMB left viewers divided, with one writing: “Bob a job Generic flapping about like a headless chicken when Ed grilled him about the police investigation.”
Another asked: “Why did he think it was a waste of time?”
Others defended Jenrick, with one user questioning why Balls - whose wife is senior Labour figure Yvette Cooper - was allowed to interview other politicians.
“Reid is just as biased,” she added. “Their slant has always been obvious, and it shows in every interview.”
“It’s always a waste of time talking to anyone on GMB,” someone else wrote.
Farage reportedly received an undeclared £5 million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Harborne.
The money was given shortly before the 2024 general election, triggering a parliamentary investigation by the Commons standards watchdog into whether he breached the MPs' register of interests.
Balls has faced a slew of controversies since he started hosting on GMB.
He previously battled Ofcom backlash for interviewing his wife won GMB. He has been married to the UK’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 1998.
The interview prompted 16,000 complaints to Ofcom. ITV defended the interview at the time but said it would not be repeated.
In April, he hit the headlines after arguing with Green Party leader Zack Polanski on the breakfast show.
Polanski, 43, complained about being interview by Balls, calling him a “Labour politician” and accusing him of bias.
He said: “Do you know what I’m enjoying? The fact that a Labour politician who’s married to a senior Labour minister is allowed to ask questions of a leader of a Green Party.”
“Are you accusing me of being a Labour politician?” Balls asked.
Polanski replied: “I’m accusing you… Well, it’s not even an accusation. We are planning to replace the Labour Party and take the fight to Reform, but what you’re asking me right now…”
Balls interrupted: “You said I was a Labour politician. Did you mean that or not?
“I haven’t been a Labour minister for 20 years. Unfortunately, Mr Polanski, I lost my seat in 2015 and I’ve not been a Labour politician for 10 years.”
Later, Polankski refused to answer questions about his former job as a hypnotherapist, accusing Balls of using “shock-jock tactics” and “pretending to be a journalist who’s interrogating the leader of a political party... with a very strong association with a Labour government who are currently in power”.
After the clash, sources claimed ITV was facing mounting pressure to “distance” the show from Balls, something the channel denied.
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