The presenter challenged the politician about the circumstance’s of Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament.
Kate Garraway clashed with Labour minister Chris Bryant on Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)
Kate Garraway sparked a clash with Labour MP Chris Bryant when she challenged him about comparisons between his party’s actions to get Andy Burnham elected and Nigel Farage‘s recent announcement he is standing down as MP for Clacton on Sea to trigger a by-election, which he will run in.
Bryant appeared on Good Morning Britain where they discussed the Reform UK leaders recent announcement and Garraway challenged him pointing out: “You [Labour] did a similar thing in Makerfield when somebody stood down to make way for Andy Burnham.” Bryant shot back: “[That was] completely and utterly different. I knew you were going to ask me that.” Garraway interjected: “…But it’s a fair point, isn’t it? Let’s finish this. Let’s address it.” In response Bryant insisted: “It is very different. Josh Simons stood down in Makerfield because he believed that the country needed a change of direction. He wasn’t standing himself. It wasn’t some kind of gimmick to try and avoid scrutiny,” he said.
Garraway cut over him trying to ask a question but he dismissed her saying: “Please, please, please! This whole infamy, infamy-they’ve all got an infamy joke that Farage does all the time.
“The establishment. the establishment. He is the establishment. What is there more establishment than Nigel Farage? He’s been an elected politician longer than I have,” he insisted.
Nigel Farage announced on Tuesday July 7 he was stepping down as an MP to fight a “people versus the establishment” by-election.
The Reform UK leader insisted he has done nothing wrong after coming under pressure over unregistered donations of cash and support.
Labour’s Chris Bryant appeared on GMB defending Labour triggering a by election in Makerfield (Image: ITV)
The Brexiteer said he had “never been angrier in my life” as he complained about media treatment of his family.
Mr Farage said: “I’ve decided that the people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions. This will be a people versus the establishment by-election.
“It’s a chance to stick two fingers up to the entire establishment to frankly tell them where to go, and that is why I will be putting my name forward to stand in this by-election.”
However Kemi Badenoch has said the Tories will not stand, while Labour also confirmed they would not field a candidate.