ITV have been forced to issue a statement over the ongoing Good Morning Britain outrage, but fans are having none of it.

The backlash began when GMB host Ed Balls interviewed his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, as they discussed the racist violence that has erupted in cities across the UK, including Rotherham, Bolton, Hull and Bristol. Angry mobs have stormed shops and set fire to businesses, as well as attacking hotels housing asylum seekers, and police officers, which has left many citizens appalled by the violence.

Yvette, 55, appeared on GMB to discuss the consequences for those taking part in the riots, as she was questioned by her husband Ed, 57, and co-presenter Kate Garraway. The couple have been married since 1998, and share three children together, and some viewers were horrified to see the husband and wife talking about the riots on the show, which is meant to be impartial.

Ed Balls interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper
Ed Balls interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper ( 
Image:
ITV)
After facing a fierce backlash from disgruntled viewers, ITV bosses were forced to issue a statement, as they dismissed allegations by some fans that the interview was a “massive conflict of interest”, and insisted they were impartial. “Following a weekend of rioting and national unrest, GMB featured a range of interviews and discussion around this national emergency on today’s programme which included James Cleverly, shadow home secretary, and Yvette Cooper, home secretary,” a spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial.”

However, angry viewers disagreed with the statement, and claimed ITV bosses had “no defence” for letting the interview between Ed and Yvette take place. “I happen to like both Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper but they shouldn’t be interviewing each other about serious public policy issues on national television,” one tweeted, as others dubbed the interview a “stupid editorial decision”.

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Ed Balls on GMB
Viewers claimed the show was not impartial following the interview ( 
Image:
ITV)

“There kind of isn’t really a defence for this though is there,” another fumed, as some suggested the controversial interview was part of a much wider problem at the TV network. “Now that Yvette Cooper is now a government minister (Home Secretary),@GMB should 100% stand Ed Balls (her husband) down. That’s a massive conflict of interest. @GMB @ITV …do what is right and resolve this issue immediately,” one tweeted.

Meanwhile, others suggested that Ed was gentler with his treatment of wife Yvette in comparison to his interview with Labour MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana. “This morning, Ed Balls interviewed a Muslim MP, interrupting her and disputing everything. He then had the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on and gave her the softest interview you could imagine,” one person fumed.