Ofcom Flooded with Over 8,000 Complaints After Ed Balls Interviews Wife Yvette Cooper on GMB Amid UK Riots Controversy

The Monday episode of GMB, featuring Ed Balls interviewing his wife Yvette Cooper, drew over 8,000 complaints, Ofcom reported. The segment, which also included a discussion with Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, sparked significant viewer backlash.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Thursday, August 8, 2024, 08:

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has been approached with over 8,000 grievances following an interview where Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was questioned on television by her husband, Ed Balls.

Ed Balls, who previously served as a Labour cabinet minister and now co-hosts ITV's Good Morning Britain, probed his wife regarding the ongoing riots in the UK during Monday's show.

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On Wednesday, Ofcom reported receiving 8,201 complaints concerning the segment. Some complaints pertained to Mr. Balls's interview with Ms. Cooper, while others focused on his interaction with Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

A representative from Ofcom stated, "We are currently evaluating the complaints in relation to our broadcasting standards, however, a decision on whether to initiate an investigation has not been made yet."

The practice of politicians conducting interviews with fellow politicians has sparked debate recently, particularly since GB News permitted several Conservative MPs to interview their peers.

Mr. Balls has transitioned out of politics and into the media industry, participating in the show Strictly Come Dancing after his electoral defeat in 2015.

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The interview drew considerable backlash across social platforms, with Deadline journalist Jake Kanter commenting that it was "perplexing it was permitted" in light of the legal requirement for broadcasters to maintain neutrality in their coverage.

Balls and Ms. Cooper have shared over 25 years of marriage and are parents to three children.

Prior to the interview, the ex-shadow chancellor mentioned that he had "real inquiries" for his partner, noting that he had "barely seen her over the past week" due to the chaos in the city.

During the interview, most of the questioning was conducted by GMB presenter Kate Garraway, but Ed Balls pressed his wife on allegations of "two-tier policing," a term referring to the perception that certain protests and demonstrations receive harsher treatment than others.

He inquired whether the police had adopted a "gentler and more prudent" strategy during demonstrations against the Gaza conflict, as opposed to the "stricter" methods used during the recent week's turbulent disturbances.

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Stay informed on the most recent updates from the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

Ms. Cooper stated that the police must perform their duties impartially and courageously, regardless of the type of crimes they encounter.

The segment drew negative attention for how Balls and Garraway conducted their interview with Ms. Sultana following her appeal for political figures to denounce the turmoil as "Islamophobic."

Balls pointed out that Ms. Cooper, Tory leader Rishi Sunak, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer all condemned the riots, labeling them as "racist."

He repeatedly cut her off while she was responding to Garraway's inquiry regarding her desire for politicians to specifically label the riots as Islamophobic.

The discussion escalated when Ms. Sultana interjected, "I'm going to wait for Kate to finish her question if that's alright," to which Balls retorted, "You can answer the questions if you want, but it's not mandatory."

Ms. Sultana subsequently posted a video of the interaction on X, commenting, "The disdainful scorn from 'journalists' will never deter me from denouncing racism and Islamophobia."

Television host Narinder Kaur, often seen on the panel of an ITV program, expressed her disapproval on X, stating: "This is unacceptable & deeply uncomfortable viewing. A wholly white panel interrogating a woman of color as though she were a suspect. Ed Balls and Kate departed from their homes today without a worry. Zarah and every other person of color set out knowing they are marked."

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After the latest episode on Monday, a representative from ITV informed the press that Good Morning Britain included a variety of interviews and discussions about the topic, and ITV believes that these segments were conducted in a balanced, fair, and appropriately impartial manner.

Sky News has reached out to ITV seeking a statement.

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