Viewers Slam Ed Balls Over Bias Row as GMB Debate on Labour Reshuffle Explodes

Ed Balls has found himself in hot water after viewers accused him of being biased during a heated debate about Labour’s cabinet reshuffle on Good Morning Britain. The controversy came after Angela Rayner’s dramatic exit as Deputy Prime Minister, which opened the door for Keir Starmer to shake up his top team.

David Lammy has stepped in as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood has been handed the Home Office, and Yvette Cooper has taken on the role of Foreign Secretary.

During Monday’s show on 8 September, Balls drew comparisons with past leaders and pointed out the scale of the changes. “Interestingly, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, David Cameron, none of them had to do a big reshuffle of the top jobs like this after one year, reported the Express.

David Lammy spent four years building foreign relations around the world, he’s now in charge of sentencing in prisons. Yvette Cooper, my wife, spent all those years preparing and working on this, suddenly she’s working on Israel and Palestine,” he said.

He also noted that Mahmood faces a daunting task in her new post. “Shabana Mahmood, she’s suddenly in the hot seat and has got to sort this all out. Luckily, there’s quite a lot of things coming down the pipeline for her already,” he added.

But the comments quickly sparked a backlash. Many viewers felt the presenter’s remarks showed favouritism, particularly when talking about his wife, Yvette Cooper. Social media lit up with complaints, some suggesting he had crossed a line.

One frustrated viewer wrote: “Has there ever been a more blatant example of conflict of interest before involving a politician who is married to a mainstream media TV presenter. It’s unbelievable.” Another blasted: “The guy should not be on this show,” while a third commented: “‘My wife is bloody brilliant’ vibe is very strong here and he is given a regular platform to say this.”

Others went further, accusing him of using insider knowledge. “Ed’s got the inside info on what’s happening in gov. How is he still in post on GMB?” one asked. Another demanded his removal: “He should be taken off GMB, as he’s so pro Labour it’s unbelievable.”

Some critics even took aim at Cooper herself. “His wife has done nothing, an unbiased presenter would see that,” one viewer claimed.

The backlash highlights the tricky territory for Balls as both a broadcaster and the husband of one of Labour’s most senior politicians. While his insights often add depth to discussions on politics, this time they have left him accused of blurring the line between commentary and personal loyalty.