PIERS Morgan was hit with yet more Ofcom complaints today following a brusing interview with MP Victoria Atkins on Good Morning Britain.
The 55-year-old presenter has just been cleared by the TV watchdog over his interview with two government ministers – but objections have already started pouring in about his treatment of another.
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Ofcom revealed today that 712 complaints have been made relating to the interview with the minister for safeguarding where he told her during a passionate tirade: “You haven’t got a clue”.
The Tory MP admitted she didn’t know about the government’s Cygnus exercise leaving him barking: “It’s been written about many times in the last few weeks, I’m staggered you’ve never heard of it.”
Exercise Cygnus was a three-day dry run for a mass outbreak of killer flu in 2016 involving ministers, the NHS, councils and public health bodies.
Spotting her smiling during her questioning, he said: “I don’t know why you all keep laughing” before asking: “Have you ever heard of Exercise Cygnus?”
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She replied: “No, I haven’t.”
Victoria Atkins later added that she was aware of the exercise four years ago, but didn’t know the name.
She reasoned: “I am a Home Office Minister, I focus on my portfolio, these questions are about the science.”
Piers interrupted: “It’s not about the science, you’re smiling again as if this all some big joke. With the greatest respect, the government keeps sending out ministers like yourself who haven’t got a clue.
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After the interview, he told viewers: “I’m sorry, I just found that shocking and I’m going to get the usual reaction.
“But my point is this: anyone who listens to that minister, she was just making it up as she went along. She’d never heard of that exercise, she’d never heard of any of the findings, she’d never heard of any of it.”
The presenter’s interviews with care minister Helen Whateley earlier this month led to more than 3,200 complaints, while 600 related to an encounter with health secretary Matt Hancock.
Speaking about being cleared by Ofcom on GMB today, Piers said: “I’m glad about that – freedom of speech matters. We remain on air and we can carry on grilling politicians.”
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