A Cabinet minister walked out of an acrimonious breakfast television on Monday, branding it “insulting”.
Therese Coffey turned off her camera after a back-and-forth with Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan over the UK’s high coronavirus death toll.
The work and pensions secretary had told the presenter that the UK’s awful death rate from Covid-19 was because it had an obesity problem and an older population.
When Mr Morgan suggested she was saying the public was “too old” and “too fat”, the minister replied: “I think that’s a very insulting thing that you’ve just said.”
She added: “I also have to point out that you started this interview late. Unfortunately I have to go to other broadcasters as well, and I wish we had more time.”
The presenter responded: “I haven’t interviewed you since May, so you can come back any time.
“It was you that boycotted the programme. Please don’t play the ‘we haven’t given you enough time’ card, because we gave you eight months and you didn’t turn up.”
But Ms Coffey moved to turn off her camera, concluding: “I’m sorry Piers, I’m going to have to go to another broadcasters. Piers, I’m sorry but I’m going to have to go. You’ve already had 20 minutes of my time, I appreciate your time as well.”
The government has had an acrimonious relationship with Good Morning Britain in recent years, at time refusing to send ministers to ITV’s flagship news programme because of Mr Morgan’s combative interview style.
In November Downing Street lifted its boycott of the programme, sending Matt Hancock onto the show after a 201-day absence.
