Good Morning Britain viewers have demanded presenter Ed Balls be axed from the ITV programme following a "weak" and "biased" interview on Monday's show.
Mr Balls and co-host Susanna Reid spoke to Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice over claims made by a doctor at Reform's party conference linking the Covid vaccine to King Charles' cancer.
While many disagreed with the claim, several were also quick to slam Mr Balls' heated approach to the interview.
"I think that your strategy, the one you want, is to persuade sensible Conservatives to come over and join you," Mr Balls commented.
Ed Balls' interview technique was slammed on social media
|ITV
"And they have done, in their droves. We're making progress, it's great," Mr Tice interjected.
Mr Balls argued: "People who don't think the King has cancer because he's taken a Covid vaccine, and when he sees your party putting on a platform at their conference, somebody to spread that kind of... not just misinformation - children will die if parents don't take give their kids the MMR vaccine. It's really serious, it's not to be laughed at."
"Freedom of speech and freedom of expression is that if someone says something that we all think doesn't sound right, then actually, you've shone sunshine on that issue," Mr Tice commented.
"And if you think it's ridiculous, well, better that than a conspiracy theory being discussed below the table that no one knows about on the dark web."
Richard Tice defended the claims made at the Reform Party Conference
|ITV
"But you've invited this person to speak... You've invited this individual," Ms Reid noted.
Mr Balls admitted: "I'm flabbergasted," to which the Reform MP hit back: "That's a rare occasion."
Mr Tice asked: "Do you not believe in free speech? Do you not believe in sharing ideas? And some of them are sensible and some of them are completely daft?"
"So was this a completely daft idea?" Ms Reid asked, to which Mr Tice responded: "It may well be. I'm not a medical expert."
"Look, I totally agree with free speech, the idea that you, Richard Tice, invited vaccine skeptic on your platform to spread lies and misinformation..." Mr Balls began.
"So you agree with free speech as long as you like the message that's essentially what you're saying?" Mr Tice cut in, adding: "Get a grip."
He fumed: "That's exactly what you're saying Ed, I think as long as you agree with it, you agree with free speech."
"But you have a choice of who you invite to your conference, don't you?" Ms Reid pointed out. "And you invited someone who made a link between the Covid vaccine and the King's cancer and said that it may have been the cause of it.
Ed Balls and Richard Tice clashed over the Reform Party Conference claims
|ITV
"That's not just free speech, because you made a decision to invite that individual on."
Cutting in, Mr Balls agreed: "It's totally irresponsible."
Reacting to the clash, several slammed Mr Balls' line of questioning. One penned on X: "Ed Balls fuming while Richard Tice stayed calm and balanced. Meanwhile Labour’s Ed just couldn’t hide his bias #GMB."
"#GMB it's about time you got Rid of Ed Balls he's a bias d***head," a second fumed.
Another wrote: "@edballs should not be allowed on #GMB considering his wife is the home secretary [now Foreign Secretary]. The bias is lost every time he interviews any one from this current Government."
LATEST ITV GMB DEVELOPMENTS
- Adil Ray claims he's been victim of 'horrendous' racist attacks following ITV GMB migrant debates
- ITV GMB fury as Balls and Garraway 'defend' Angela Rayner in 'car crash' stamp duty scandal row: 'Most biased interview ever seen!'
- Ed Balls and Zia Yusuf clash sparks ITV GMB 'bias' fury as duo lock horns in fiery migrant debate: 'Acting on his WIFE'S behalf!'
ITV GMB viewers accused Ed Balls of being 'biased'
|ITV
One more added: "So weak for the interviewers to allow Tice to even attempt to drag it to a free speech issue (it clearly isn’t).
"Not giving morons a platform is not denying anyone's free speech. Tice also didn’t say the conspiracy theory was wrong, something neither balls or Reid pushed on. Awful."
"I can't stand Richard Tice but Ed is just embarrassing at this point. Blundering through an important conversation, @GMB please find a better standard of presenter. Preferably one who is not allowed to interview his wife and one with a brain #gmb," another raged.
However, others were more supportive of Mr Balls, with another X user writing: "Freedom of speech isn't freedom to misinform, this is where the line should be but I suppose if they had to tell the truth there would be no party."
"Tice looked like a rabbit trapped in headlights Ed balls wiped the floor with him," another posted. (sic)