ITV has defended allowing Ed Balls to interview his wife Yvette Cooper on Good Morning Britain.
The broadcaster has come under fire after the former Labour cabinet minister - who is now a regular presenter on the ITV breakfast show - grilled his own wife during Monday's episode in her role as the home secretary.
A spokesperson for GMB has now said: '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.
'We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial.'
GMB was branded 'embarrassing to the extreme' by viewers after Ed interviewed his wife Yvette Cooper in a 'huge conflict of interests'.
ITV has defended allowing Ed Balls to interview his wife Yvette Cooper on Good Morning Britain
The broadcaster has come under fire after the former Labour cabinet minister - who is now a regular presenter on the ITV breakfast show - grilled his own wife during Monday's episode in her role as the home secretary
Ed, 57, interviewed Home Secretary Yvette, 55, alongside Kate Garraway, 57, aboutthe riots across the UK and asked what the police, government and social media sites should be doing.
Ed and Kate questioned Yvette on the government's refusal to label the riots 'Islamophobic', as posed earlier in the programme by Zarah Sultana.
Yvette began: 'What we've seen on the streets of some cities and towns over the weekend frankly is criminal violence and thuggery.
'That is what it is first and foremost, and that's why it needs the full force of the law behind it.'
She added: 'We have certainly seen some targetted attacks on mosques, and that clearly reflects Islamophobia.'
Ed said: 'Can I ask, because we've talked about this a few times in the last few days – like many of our viewers will have done at home since those terrible killings in Southport – there have been identifiable individuals on social media who have been inciting not just riots but violence.
A spokesperson for GMB has now said: 'We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial.'
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in that position on X, formerly Twitter
'They've been using racist language and falsehoods. This is happening on the social media platforms.
'What should be done by the social media companies and the police and the government to stop this happening? It's been happening for a week.'
She replied: 'Well you're right, Ed. We have seen things appearing online that are clearly criminal.
'Social media has put rocket boosters under far-right extremist organisations and also some of the violence we have seen. Things that are criminal offline are also criminal online.'
Ofcom has recently examined the issue of politicians hosting current affair programme after a debate over Nigel Farage's appearances on GB News during the general election campaign.
The regulator has ruled that while the British public is 'instinctively uncomfortable' with the practice, there wasn't a 'clear consensus for an outright ban'.
Largely ignoring the content of the interview, GMB viewers took exception to the decision to put Ed in such a compromising position on X, formerly Twitter.
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper
Chaos unfolded on the streets of Britain again in the wake of the Southport killings - as hundreds of people took to the streets in Birmingham and Plymouth (pictured)
They wrote: 'Does @GMB realise just how utterly ridiculous it looks by continuing to invite @edballs on as a presenter whilst he defends the actions of the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, his wife!?'
'Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is asked why the govt hasn't used the term 'Islamophobic'. In her answer Cooper (finally) uses the word. As for husband interviewing wife, how does #GMB think this is tenable?'
'Ed who's just treated @zarahsultana with contempt for suggesting MSM plays it's part in whipping up hate is about to interview his wife in an obvious conflict of interests even for a 5-year-old viewer. Stick to Kerry Katona and Strictly #Gmb'
'Interesting that Ed Balls doesn't interrupt his wife when interviewing but with other guests he does every 5 mins #gmb #goodmorningbritain'
'Ed Balls is going to interview his wife? How is this @GMB being impartial and NOT a huge conflict of interest, embarrassing in the extreme... and he hasn't talked to the home secretery about her job and the situation... really? (sic)'
'Is it really appropriate that Ed Balls is hosting news coverage directly concerning the response to the protests of his wife and the government she is a part of?'
Violence erupted again in Belfast last night amid ongoing rioting around the UK
'Sorry this is insane! You can't have Ed Balls on a program 'interviewing' his own wife, what a stupid stupid editorial decision! I can't believe Yvette Cooper went along with this!'
'Why is Yvette Cooper's husband (Ed Balls) allowed to defend her abysmal handling of the race riots? I'm not sure this is allowed?';
'I don't think Ed Balls should be interviewing Yvette Cooper on GMB. They're a married couple. It's ridiculous.'
'Surely good practice would mean that Ed Balls should not be on a programme that is featuring his wife, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper . Get it sorted @gmb.'
Ed and Yvette have been married since 1998 and share three children: Joe Balls, Mady Balls, and Ellie Cooper
