Susanna Reid effortlessly demolished calls for Boris Johnson to return to frontline politics on Tuesday by reminding his supporters about nothing other than partygate.
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Speaking on ITV’sGood Morning Britain, former Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman said he would install Johnson as party chairman with a seat in cabinet, and make sure he got elected to parliament at the next general election.
He claimed: “He’s a great campaigner and we really are missing that now – we’ve seen that at these disastrous local elections.”
But, Campbell Bannerman said the ex-PM was “set up” on that, as Johnson’s keen ally Nadine Dorries claims in her book, The Plot.
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Reid said: “Sorry, he was set up? Set up by whom?”
When the ex-MEP said it was Johnson’s own staff who were setting him up, Reid reminded him: “Boris Johnson was in charge during lockdown, [there was] legislation he introduced and [he] then proceeded to have a whole load of social events and breach of rules in No.10 Downing Street.
“In what way was that a set-up?”
Campbell Bannerman claimed Johnson “doesn’t like partying” to which Reid said: “I just saw him with a wine glass in his hand!”
When the ex-MEP just claimed the reality is very complex, Reid recalled how Johnson was fined for breaching lockdown rules.
Campbell Bannerman then claimed that “it was the media”, and said that Johnson was only a few percentage points behind in the polls – and that he does not understand why he resigned as an MP.
“I think he will be back,” Campbell Bannerman said.
Apparently not deterred by Reid’s reminders, the ex-MEP later added: “I say to Conservative MPs, for heaven’s sake, step up, get rid of Sunak, let’s have a new leader, which can bring Boris back as part of a team – it has to be Suella [Braverman] or Kemi [Badenoch].”
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He added that he “would not be averse” to having Nigel Farage back into the Conservative fold, too.
Should the Conservatives bring back Boris Johnson into the Party in order to save it?
Former Conservative MEP David Campbell Bannerman would like to see Boris back in the Conservative Party.
Professor Alex Ford, a marine biologist at Portsmouth University, told Good Morning Britain that the waters he analysed off the Hampshire coast contained drugs, contraceptive pills and antidepressants.
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It comes as new figures fuelled more public anger over untreated sewage being discharged into the sea and rivers when the Victorian-era infrastructure cannot cope with heavy rain.
According to the Environment Agency, the number of sewage spills in England’s rivers and seas more than doubled in a year: there were 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023, compared to 1.75 million in 2022.
‘Every single marine species that we’ve looked at so far is full of cocaine.’ – Professor Alex Ford
Figures are expected to show last year was the worst for sewage spills in England since monitoring began. pic.twitter.com/Pj6QlHQYEe
Ford told the broadcaster from Langstone Harbour, Hampshire: “The sewage treatment plant behind us takes in the waste of half a million people and when it can’t cope with it, it chucks it straight out here.
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“In the marine life just beneath our feet, we’re actually finding they’re full of drugs. They’re full of the contraceptive pills, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication. Every single marine species that we’ve looked at so far is full of cocaine.”
GMB presenter Susanna Reid couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing, and asked the reporter to clarify: “Every marine species is full of cocaine, did he say?”
Water companies are permitted to discharge untreated sewage into waterways in exceptional circumstances, such as during the heavy rainfall seen this week.
The overflow systems are used to protect homes and businesses from flooding, and the water companies say only a small percentage of the discharge is wastewater.
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Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, blamed heavy rainfall for the rising problem, but campaigners and opposition parties accused the Tory government of failing to get to grips with the problem.
On social media, the reaction was as you would expect …
Already 400 pollution alerts in first three months of this year in Langstone Harbour. More than all of last year. Which was already much worse than year before that. Southern Water tells us sorting the problem is a top priority. And reminds us weather’s been especially wet. https://t.co/ZyqkQBfnfb
It was a case of new term, new trim, as the presenter fronted the ITV breakfast show for the first time since July.
She was seen with a much shorter hairstyle after having several inches chopped off ahead of her return to the show.
Susanna’s co-host Ed Balls was quick to comment on her transformation as the show got underway on Monday, telling her he “loved her hair”.
“Thank you very much indeed,” she replied. “Yes, I’ve had a few inches chopped off. I feel a little lighter. Not quite sure what I’m doing after being off all summer.”
On Sunday night, Susanna previewed her new ’do on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Susanna is not the only ITV daytime presenter who returned to work after the summer break on Monday.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV1.
With ITV1 splitting TV coverage of the Women’s World Cup with the BBC, there’s set to be disruption to regular programming in the coming weeks.
The tournament is currently underway in Australia and New Zealand, meaning that many games are taking place in the morning hours for sports fans in the UK.
So, if you’re flicking on the telly disappointed not to see Susanna Reid, Lorraine Kelly, Alison Hammond and co on your screens, here’s the full schedule for ITV1 daytime this week…
Suella Braverman has been accused of using “dog whistle language” after she claimed that 100 million refugees are coming to the UK.
The home secretary made her remarks as she unveiled the government’s plans to stop asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France in small boats.
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Under the Illegal Migrants Bill, anyone coming to the UK that way will be deported and banned from ever returning.
Unveiling the legislation in the House of Commons yesterday, Braverman said that under the present system, the 100 million people estimated to be displaced around the world would have the right to seek asylum in Britain.
“Let’s be clear – they are coming here,” she said.
She went even further in an article for the Daily Mail in which she said “billions” of refugees could attempt to come to the UK.
On Good Morning Britain today, she was taken to task over her comments by presenter Susanna Reid.
″You say there are 100 million people displaced around the world and likely billions more eager to come here in possible,” Reid said. “On what planet is that likely and how is that not inflammatory language.”
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Doubling down, Braverman said the 100 million figure was a United Nations estimate of people fleeing conflict, persecution and climate change.
She said: “Many of them are heading to the United Kingdom. We saw over 45,000 people come here on small boats alone last year. This is an unsustainable problem that we’ve got and it’s now necessary for us to take steps to stop it.”
But Reid pointed out that only a quarter of the 100 million have even left their own country.
She said: “So even the 100 million figure doesn’t hold up, let alone the billions you have flagged in the Daily Mail this morning.”
Watch Susanna Reid tear Suella Braverman’s 100 million people coming to the UK argument apart.
On LBC last night, Iain Dale launched a furious attack on the home secretary.
Interviewing Tory MP Danny Kruger, he said: “Suella Braverman, in her statement earlier, said there are 100 million people that could qualify to come here. She said ‘let’s be clear – they are coming here’.
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“You know as well as I do that 100 million people are not coming here. This is dog whistle language from an extremist home secretary, isn’t it?”
‘This is dogwhistle language used by an extremist Home Secretary.’ @IainDale accuses Suella Braverman of using sensationalist language after she claimed that 100 million asylum seekers could come to the UK without her proposed bill. pic.twitter.com/F3mAau4on2
Gavin Barwell, a Tory peer who was Theresa May’s chief of staff when she was prime minister, said Braverman should be “utterly ashamed of herself for resorting to the language of extremists”.
Is there a problem with people illegally crossing the Channel? Yes Are 100 million people trying to come here? Of course not. The Home Secretary should be utterly ashamed of herself for resorting to the language of extremists https://t.co/32VSvflUzb
Meanwhile, Braverman also insisted this morning that her migrant crackdown would not break international law, despite telling MPs and peers that it could.
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In a letter seen by HuffPost UK, Braverman, who is a lawyer, admitted there was more than a 50 per cent chance that the Illegal Migrants Bill could breach the European Convention on Human Rights.
Susanna Reid has defended Madonna after the star spoke out against misogynistic and ageist comments about her appearance.
The Good Morning Britain presenter said the Like A Prayer singer should “feel proud of herself”, while criticising those who have been passing comment on Madonna since she popped up at the Grammys over the weekend.
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Discussing a recent Instagram post, in which Madonna said she was once again “caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in”, on the ITV breakfast show, Susanna said: “She’s 64 years old and I think she is damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t. If she aged naturally people would still be focused and obsessed with her appearance.
“People are going to be obsessed with how Madonna appears and she thinks it is an example of misogyny, ageism and she also blames the long lens of the camera which took her photo.”
Madonna speaks onstage during the Grammys
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
She continued: “Frankly, do you know what? I think she should just look however she wants to look and there we go and there you have it.
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“She should feel proud of herself whatever she does.”
The Queen of Pop appeared on stage at Sunday’s Grammys to introduce Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ performance of their hit collaboration, Unholy, during which she paid tribute to her fellow “troublemakers and rebels”.
It prompted scrutiny and speculation on social media and in the press, with some questioning if the 64-year-old had undergone cosmetic surgery.
Responding to the criticism on Instagram, Madonna said: “Many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face.
“Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women pass [sic] the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong-willed, hard-working, and adventurous.
“I have never apologised for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start.”
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Madonna pointed out that she’s been “degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.”
She concluded: “I look forward to many more years of subversive behaviour – pushing boundaries – Standing up to the patriarchy – and Most of all enjoying my life.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV1.
The deputy prime minister appeared on the ITV breakfast show on Tuesday, where he was questioned about whether Boris Johnson had previous knowledge of allegations of inappropriate behaviour levelled against Pincher.
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He lost the Conservative whip last week after being accused of groping two men when he had “far too much” to drink.
Pincher was appointed to enforce party discipline in February this year. He had resigned as a junior whip back in November 2017 following a complaint that he made an unwanted pass at a Conservative candidate.
Susanna stated that Pincher was “found guilty” in a subsequent investigation, but Raab insisted that “no formal disciplinary action was taken” against Pincher, despite the the complaint being upheld.
A testy exchange between the pair then followed as they argued over whether it could be said Pincher was “found guilty”.
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“Was he guilty of inappropriate behaviour or not?” Susanna said.
Raab said: “He was found… the claim was found to be substantiated but we didn’t…”
Susanna repeated her question, as Raab insisted the claims were “substantiated” but argued that “guilty is a very loaded term”.
“Sorry, inappropriate behaviour is a pretty loaded term, Mr Raab,” Susanna told him.
Raab appeared to lose patience, saying: “Sorry, if you’ll allow me to… Susanna you always do this.”
“What, ask questions?” she replied.
“Let me give you the account and your viewers can make up their minds. I’m always happy to answer difficult questions.”
An undiluted lesson in precise inquisition by @susannareid100 which is so skilfully done that the Deputy Prime Minister ends up in knots, hopelessly denying that his party is recklessly guilty of appointing a known wrong ‘un to high office, endangering the welfare of colleagues. https://t.co/rLYyNRydF3
Following the latest allegations made against Pincher last week, the prime minister initially tried to stand by him.
Downing Street also initially denied the PM had knowledge of prior allegations made against Pincher before he was appointed deputy chief whip in February.
However, on Monday No.10 admitted Johnson was aware of media reports and some allegations about Pincher’s misconduct that were “either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint”.
In March 2021, Piers announced that he would be stepping down as host of GMB with immediate effect, after five years with the breakfast TV show.
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His exit came at a time the divisive presenter was embroiled in controversy, having just a day earlier made headlines for casting doubt on claims made by Meghan Markle that she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a senior member of the Royal Family.
Now gearing up for the launch of his own TalkTV show, Piers has spoken about how his departure affected his relationship with his former “TV wife”.
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Speaking at a press event to promote his nightly show Piers Morgan Uncensored, he explained: “It’s difficult, you know. We had this arranged marriage, which turned out to be very successful. And then we suddenly got divorced one afternoon. And that was it! Gone!
“I went from seeing Susanna Reid in her curlers and her nightie every day at four in the morning to not seeing her. We stay in touch through texting and stuff, but it was all a bit dramatic and sad, really. I think we both feel that.”
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Piers and Susanna in September 2021, five months after he left Good Morning Britain
David M. Benett via Getty Images
He continued: “We both felt like we had one of the great on-screen chemistries and it all got ended, in my opinion, in a rather silly way. But [ITV’s] loss is going to be TalkTV’s gain.”
“We went through some really difficult times together as a team and those were very powerful moments,” she continued. “And when it came to the lockdown, the pandemic and holding the government to account, he was just unrivalled at holding their feet to the fire, but then it ended.”
Susanna added: “He’s a friend of mine and that won’t change.”
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Piers and Susanna worked together for five years before his sudden exit from GMB
“Effectively I was censored at my previous job,” he claimed. ”[I was] told to apologise to Meghan Markle for an honestly-held opinion, which obviously I wasn’t going to do.”
Piers Morgan Uncensored will launch on TalkTV at 8pm on Monday 25 April.
After five years at the helm of GMB, Piers announced suddenly in March 2021 that he would be stepping down as host with immediate effect.
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News of his exit came the day after he made headlines for casting doubt on claims made by Meghan Markle that she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a senior member of the Royal Family, with Piers’ remark eventually inciting a record number of complaints to Ofcom.
During a press event to promote his show Piers Morgan Uncensored, the divisive broadcaster was asked about his exit from GMB, which he branded “ridiculous”, “absurd” and “a farce”.
“I used to think that I was uncensored,” he claimed. “And then, of course, when I left Good Morning Britain it turned out that I actually was being censored, in the sense that I was told I had to apologise for disbelieving Princess Pinochio, or I would have to leave the building. So I took the ‘leave the building’ option.”
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He described the decision as a “sad moment” for himself, the show and his “poor TV wife” Susanna Reid, joking: “It was a very dramatic divorce. And I thought it was the wrong call by ITV.
“They had the hottest show on TV, it had just beaten the BBC to become the number one-rated breakfast show in the country. I wasn’t expecting a carriage clock, but I wasn’t expecting to be escorted out of the building. So it was all a bit dramatic.”
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid pictured on his final day as a presenter on GMB
ITV/Shutterstock
He continued: “It’s interesting to me that Ofcom, the government-appointed TV regulator, five months later, found in my favour, and said that it would have been a chilling infringement on my rights to free speech had I not been able to say, ‘I don’t believe somebody’. So the whole thing seemed to me a bit ridiculous.”
He said: “The moment you try and get me fired, as Megan Markle did on Good Morning Britain, where she personally writes to the boss of ITV and demands my head on a plate, that is cancel culture right there. And the idea that ITV rolled over to it is ridiculous.
“But that’s why I’m here, and I feel, in a way, grateful to them, because I think this is a very exciting new platform and opportunity.”
Meghan Markle
NDZ/Star Max via Getty Images
“The mystery about the ITV thing was that I was hired specifically to have strongly-held opinions,” he added. “So, that’s why I felt the way I had to leave in the end was so absurd. And the more you look back on it, the more you go, ‘what was that all about?’.
“I thought the whole thing was a farce, and I’m delighted that as a result of the farce, we’ve ended up with a whole network that is now dedicated to preventing that kind of farce from recurring.”
Making a somewhat questionable comparison, Piers added that he felt “like Nelson Mandela when he came out of prison”, joking: “It’s like the long walk to free speech freedom.”
Piers went on to insist that he would not be “looking to steal Good Morning Britain viewers”, before throwing some shade at the daytime TV show, which has brought in a string of rotating guest hosts since Piers’ exit.
“I would be looking to pick up all those who’ve stopped watching [GMB],” he claimed. “Which, judging by when I walk around and judging by their ratings, is a lot of people.
“So if you loved Good Morning Britain when I was on it, and you miss me in that way, you know where to find me. There are a lot of people who I think were annoyed about what went down. And they’d be the ones I’d be after.”
Piers Morgan in the GMB studio
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Since stepping down from GMB over a year ago, Piers has made a number of seemingly conflicting comments about the nature of his exit.
The morning after the news of his exit, Piers told reporters: “I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree. I’m just going to take it easy and see how we go.
“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly-held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it,” he added at the time.
“Effectively I was censored at my previous job,” he claimed. “[I was] told to apologise to Meghan Markle for an honestly-held opinion, which obviously I wasn’t going to do.”
Piers Morgan Uncensored will launch on TalkTV at 8pm on Monday 25 April.
Wednesday’s interview got off to a shaky start when Susanna asked Liam to stop patronising her.
“You’re an intelligent journalist,’ Liam said. “And you haven’t understood what I said last week about what we do in the next three to four years will determine the future of humanity.
Susanna retorted: “Liam, try not to be so patronising when you’re talking to me.”
Things then went from bad to worse when Richard stepped in to say that blocking the motorways puts the lives of others at risk.
“You’re not accepting the responsibility of your actions,” Richard told him.
“Well, if you say something stupid, I’ll cut you off,” Richard added. “The way you’re putting your argument is fatal, it has fatal consequences.”
Getting increasingly irate, Liam then launched into rant, stating: “We’ve been writing letters for 30 years. We’ve been writing petitions for 30 years. This is our line in the sand. We are demanding the government makes a meaningful statement to save the future of this country and if they refuse to do it then they can put us in prison.”
Liam then stood up and yelled: “I’ve had enough of talking to people in this country about what we’re doing. This is the state of things.”
The Government is today seeking an injunction against the environmental group after police warned that their tactics on the M25 are likely to cause “serious injury or death”.
It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps vowed to ensure ‘guerrilla’ activists “cannot keep disrupting and endangering people’s lives”.
