Good Morning Britain viewers complain to Ofcom after Ed Balls’ ‘vile behaviour’ – and call for host to be sacked
GOOD Morning Britain viewers have complained to Ofcom after Ed Balls’ ‘vile behaviour’ during yesterday’s installment.
ITV viewers called for the host to be sacked following a heated debate with politician Zarah Sultana, 30, over the interpretation of her comments about the current UK rioting.
The Coventry South Labour MP had branded them “Islamophobic” and “racist”, comments which were chalenged by former shadow chancellor, Ed, 57.
In the segment, Zarah argued that her comments had been misrepresented and taken out of context, insisting that she did not endorse violence.
She stated: “I’m not endorsing violence, I’m saying that we need to understand the reasons why it happens.”
Zarah highlighted the importance of understanding causes behind the social unrest and learning from historical events.
She emphasised that her intention was to provoke thoughtful discussion on the underlying factors that lead to riots, rather than to justify the actions themselves.
Ed, however, pressed Zarah on the potential implications of her remarks, questioning whether they might be interpreted as condoning violent behavior.
He said: “The implication of your argument is that there is a kind of justification for violence.
“The problem is if you say that there are understandable causes that produce rioting, there is an implicit moral justification for the riot.”
The exchange became particularly tense when Zarah accused Ed of deliberately distorting her words for the sake of sensationalism.
She defended her position by pointing out the need for politicians and public figures to address the root causes of social discontent, rather than solely condemning the symptoms.
Zarah said: “It’s really important that we don’t misrepresent what’s being said for the sake of sensationalism.
“When we talk about the causes of violence and the causes of social unrest, it’s about understanding them, not justifying them.”
Ed challenged this viewpoint, replying: “If we justify violence, we are in danger of encouraging it.”
He stressed the importance of a clear stance against violence, saying, “It’s really important to be absolutely clear that we are not endorsing any kind of violent behavior.”
Throughout the debate, both Ed and Zarah remained firm in their positions – with Kate Garraway, journalist Andrew Pierce and Labour politician Ben Bradshaw appearing to side with the show anchor.
Ed maintained that any suggestion of rioting was dangerous while Zarah reiterated her stance on needing to addressing the issue.
She argued: “We need to tackle the root causes of why people feel the need to riot.”
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fumed: “Hope that all #GMB viewers have reported this vile behaviour to ofcom, the show is awful and I don’t watch and this just proves it, so much lack of care for the people across the country being affected by the riots, and no guest invited onto the show should be treated like this.”
Someone else raged: “This MP was treated shabbily and there is a moment when she looks at them both with a ‘I see you’ and both Kate and Ed, who should know better, are out of their depth and land in disgrace. Poor judgement from #GMB this morning.”
Another agreed: “@GMB Shame on you for this morning’s interview @Ofcom please investigate @edballs vile inflammatory behaviour.
“The way Zarah Sultana was treated by Good Morning Britain‘s hosts and panellists this morning was nothing short of appalling. Ask tough questions – she’s used to it! – but the sneering and constant interrupting when she was trying to talk about the realities of racism and Islamophobia as the only person of colour on set came across as completely callous and tone-deaf.”
A fourth added: “4 white people ganging up and speaking down to a Brown Muslim women, who is scared for her life, in the midst of riots where far right racists are literally roaming the streets attacking and attempting to kill black and brown people, is disgusting #gmb
@GMB.”
One more replied: “I watched this. Shocking by #GMB. If @Ofcom look at it they will be shocked.”
More than 400 people have now been arrested over the week of carnage on England and Northern Ireland’s streets.
Six people were arrested in Plymouth last night after cops were injured in the violence.
And in Birmingham masked protesters interrupted a live news broadcast shouting “F*** the EDL” – before swarming a pub.
In south Belfast, thugs hurled stones and petrol bombs at police vans near a supermarket which had been torched at the weekend.
More than 400 people have now been arrested over the week of carnage on England and Northern Ireland’s streets.
Footage shows how thugs in the Northern Irish capital hurled petrol bombs at police vans.
South Belfast resident Mohammed Idris told the BBC he won’t reopen his cafe after vile thugs torched it at the weekend.
Riot cops were deployed to Sandy Row last night close to a supermarket that was set on fire.
Bottles, petrol bombs and planks of wood were then thrown at police vehicles during the unrest.
Officers with riot shields were seen standing firm as they lined up in a show of force despite missiles sailing through the air.
Youths dressed in black were also seen throwing stones at police Land Rovers.
In Plymouth, three cops were injured after far-right supporters pelted them with stones and lumps of concrete in fresh clashes.
Several protesters also suffered injuries, bins were set on fire and fireworks were hurled as the opposing groups collided in the seaside city.
More than 150 cops were deployed by Devon and Cornwall Police in a bid to get a grip on the situation.
Officers with riot shields stood firm and have been seen shoving back protesters from both sides who provoked them.
One male officer was pulled off the line with an apparent injury while several protesters needed treatment for head wounds.
Birmingham also saw chaotic scenes as a Sky News van was attacked by knife-wielding man.
How riots rocked Britain
Violent clashes broke out in dozens of towns and cities last week and over the weekend following the murders of three girls in Southport.
They have been fuelled by online posts wrongly claiming suspect Axel Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker.
Rudakubana, 17, was actually born in Cardiff and raised as a Christian.
Terrifying violence erupted hours after the attack in Southport later spreading to Hartlepool and Manchester on Wednesday.
Riots then broke out in Sunderland and Blackpool on Friday – and in 11 more cities on Saturday and Sunday.
Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers have been attacked while shops owned by ethnic minority Brits have been looted.
Hundreds of thugs petrol-bombed a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham near Sheffield on Sunday.
Yobs also petrol-bombed a Holiday Inn hosting asylum seekers in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
And last night thugs lobbed petrol bombs, bricks and bottles at cops, stormed a pub and chucked paint over graves in ANOTHER night of carnage.
Rioters hurled petrol bombs at police vans in south Belfast last night – while cops came under attack in Plymouth.
In Burnley, gravestones in a Muslim cemetery were vandalised in what the town’s council leader called an “evil act” by “heinous individuals”.
Six people were arrested in Plymouth after cops were injured in the violence.
And in Birmingham masked protesters interrupted a live news broadcast shouting “F*** the EDL” – before swarming a pub.
The violence has been fuelled by a “rogues’ gallery” of far-right agitators including Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate and Britain First’s Paul Golding.
Meanwhile, hundreds of yobs wearing balaclavas descended on a pub with a man viciously attacked.
But there were powerful scenes in Liverpool, where mosque leaders embraced far-right protesters and offered them food – reducing some to tears.
Yesterday Sir Keir Starmer hit out at thugs wreaking havoc across Britain.
The PM said violence would not be “tolerated” and the full force of the law will come down on the perpetrators.
Starmer said: “There are a number of actions that came out of the meeting.
“The first is we will have a Standing Army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.
“The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.
“I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law.”
A No10 spokesperson warned social media bosses that they have a responsibility to guarantee criminal activity doesn’t appear or run amok on their platforms.
They said ministers are in close contact with tech chiefs to “ensure they are meeting their obligations” around racist illegal activity.
Downing Street also confirmed there are enough free prison cells to ensure every last rioter is locked up.
