The interview was branded a ‘car crash’ by viewers.
Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway presented the ITV show (Image: ITV)
Zia Yusuf was shut down as he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday. Reform’s spokesperson for home affairs appeared on the ITV breakfast show to chat to hosts Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley, but fans described it as a “car crash”.
Mr Yusuf was questioned about Reform calling for military operations to try and put a stop to small boats crossing the channel and entering the UK. The politician hopes that the migrants would be “dropped off” on France’s beaches instead. He then talked about how the ITV hosts had suggested that the French president should issue their Navy, as Kate argued back: “I didn’t say anything about the navy coming out. I never said that, Yusuf, you are not listening to me! No one has mentioned the French Navy; we are talking about your proposal.”
The politician appeared on the ITV show (Image: Getty)
At that point, Mr Yusuf began to speak over the hosts as it erupted into inaudible chatter before Richard stepped in.
He gritted his teeth before he said: “What I was saying was that you have a situation here where you are escalating confrontation possibilities between the French. You have clearly not consulted the French about this, you’re simply assuming that the French would be content for British ships and British vessels to come in on territorial waters and return these people.
“What I am asking you is, if the French were to say ‘no, we are not putting up with that’, what happens then?”
The politician then referred to a document, which he said will be released at 11am, outlining scenarios for both situations – if the French give consent and if they do not.
He then began going on about the UK’s army, before Richard interrupted and asked: “What would your instructions be, were you to be in government?
“You haven’t answered the question. What would your instructions to the Navy and to the Marines be to deal with a French attempt to repulse them coming on to French shores?”
Mr Yusuf then asked what that would look like, as a surprised Richard responded: “I have absolutely no idea… It’s not for me to consider, it’s for you to consider.”
Multiple times during the chat, the hosts and guest continued to talk over each other and go round in circles, leaving fans at home completely frustrated.
Taking to X/Twitter, one viewer fumed: “@GMB That was a really poor interview of Zia Yusef… both hosts talking over each other, prep was poor. He was given a very easy ride.”
Another added: “Another car crash performance on @GMB from Zia useless, I mean @ZiaYusufUK #GMB.”