Following Rishi Sunak’s budget announcement on March 3, Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard spoke to the Chancellor about his plans for the next financial year. However, as Sunak and Shephard spoke over one another throughout the interview, viewers took to Twitter to slam the morning show over the quality of the interview.
“There are huge numbers of people who – through no fault of their own – are slipping through the gaps,” Shephard stated, challenging the Chancellor over the three million people who were unable to get financial support from the government.
Sunak replied: “Well that’s why yesterday I was pleased we could announce a major improvement in access to the self-employment scheme.
“Last year we didn’t have the tax returns from people who were newly self-employed. Now the tax return filing deadline has passed we do have those tax returns so that means over 600,000 more people are able to be brought into the system.”
Speaking over the chancellor, Shephard asked: “Okay right, let’s talk about that figure if we may chancellor.”
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“If you look at that number,” Sunak continued as Shephard interrupted again: “Let’s just talk about that figure if we may.”
Sunak hit back: “Yes I’m just about to Ben,” before pausing to let the host continue interrupting.
“Well I think if you take a step back and look at our sum total for the self-employed over the course of this crisis we are going to spend £30billion supporting those in self-employment,” the chancellor continued.
“It will stand at the most generous support for self-employment of any country anywhere in the world. I don’t think anyone can say that isn’t comprehensive enough.”
Shephard snapped: “Well if you didn’t have any profits then how can you get any support?”
Commenting on Twitter, one viewer posted: “#GMB presenters are the worst interviewers. Ask a question but then continue to talk over the interviewee, soooo annoying.”
Another added: “Honestly sometimes #GMB is so frustrating!!! Never let anyone answer the questions, constantly speak over people & then go onto another question without finishing the previous one.”
“Jesus Christ @benshephard @susannareid100, when you interview, let people answer before jumping into the next juve! #GMB,” a third posted.