Good Morning Britain was branded 'embarrassing to the extreme' by viewers after Ed Balls interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper in a 'huge conflict of interests' on Monday's episode.
Ed, 57, interviewed Home Secretary Yvette, 55, alongside Kate Garraway, who madeher triumphant return to GMB following her father's illness.
Yvette was on the breakfast programme to discuss whether the police's response to the nationwide riots had been sufficient.
Ed and Kate questioned Yvette on the government's refusal to label the riots 'Islamophobic', as posed earlier in the programme by Zarah Sultana.
Yvette began: 'What we've seen on the streets of some cities and towns over the weekend frankly is criminal violence and thuggery. That is what it is first and foremost, and that's why it needs the full force of the law behind it.'
Good Morning Britain was branded 'embarrassing to the extreme' by viewers after Ed Balls, 57, interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper, 55, in a 'huge conflict of interests' on Monday's episode
Ed interviewed Home Secretary Yvette alongside Kate Garraway, 57, who made her triumphant return to GMB following her father's illness
Ed and Kate questioned Yvette on the government's refusal to label the riots 'Islamophobic', as posed earlier in the programme by Zarah Sultana
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She added: 'We have certainly seen some targetted attacks on mosques, and that clearly reflects Islamophobia.'
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in such a compromising position on X, formerly Twitter.
They wrote:'Does @GMB realise just how utterly ridiculous it looks by continuing to invite @edballs on as a presenter whilst he defends the actions of the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, his wife!?'
'Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is asked why the govt hasn't used the term "Islamophobic". In her answer Cooper (finally) uses the word. As for husband interviewing wife, how does #GMB think this is tenable?'
'Ed who's just treated @zarahsultana with contempt for suggesting MSM plays it's part in whipping up hate is about to interview his wife in an obvious conflict of interests even for a 5-year-old viewer. Stick to Kerry Katona and Strictly #Gmb'
'Interesting that Ed Balls doesn’t interrupt his wife when interviewing but with other guests he does every 5 mins #gmb #goodmorningbritain'
'Ed Balls is going to interview his wife? How is this @GMB being impartial and NOT a huge conflict of interest, embarrassing in the extreme... and he hasn't talked to the home secretery about her job and the situation... really? (sic)'
'Is it really appropriate that Ed Balls is hosting news coverage directly concerning the response to the protests of his wife and the government she is a part of?'
'Sorry this is insane! You can’t have Ed Balls on a program ‘interviewing’ his own wife, what a stupid stupid editorial decision! I can’t believe Yvette Cooper went along with this!'
'Why is Yvette Cooper’s husband (Ed Balls) allowed to defend her abysmal handling of the race riots? I’m not sure this is allowed?';
'I don’t think Ed Balls should be interviewing Yvette Cooper on GMB. They’re a married couple. It’s ridiculous.'
'Surely good practice would mean that Ed Balls should not be on a programme that is featuring his wife, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper . Get it sorted @gmb.'
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in that position on X, formerly Twitter
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper
Downing Street is expected to hold a Cobra emergency response meeting this morning after hundreds of far right thugs were arrested in riots which saw attacks on police and buildings set alight on the sixth day of escalating disorder.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed rioters would 'regret' engaging in 'far-right thuggery' and promised those involved in unrest would 'face the full force of the law' as he addressed the nation on Sunday.
Monday's meeting is due to involve relevant ministers and police representatives who will discuss the response in the coming days to ensure Britain is brought back from the edge of nationwide chaos.
Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said this week's violence is 'clearly far-right extremism' that is 'driven by racism' and said he would have called a Cobra meeting sooner.
Riots have broken out across the country fuelled by misinformation on social media since three little girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport on Monday.
Hundreds of police officers have been injured in clashes with thugs, as far-right activists led the way in attacking police officers, mosques and hotels thought to house asylum seekers this week.
Islamophobic chants were heard and in some areas of the country rioters were filmed stopping cars and interrogating drivers about whether they were 'white and English'.
Speaking ahead of the Cobra meeting, the Home Secretary said the Government is not recalling Parliament 'right now'.
