Good Morning Britain viewers were left frustrated during a heated debate on Thursday
07:37, 29 May 2025Updated 08:04, 29 May 2025
Good Morning Britain viewers issued a complaint after an “excruciating” debate on Thursday (May 29).
During today’s edition of the hit ITV programme, hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid delivered the latest news headlines from across the UK and around the world.
At one point, they began debating the current doctors’ strike after health secretary Wes Streeting warned that resident doctors would “choke” the NHS by going back on strike.
In a BBC interview, the MP urged resident doctors to “work with the government” and warned strikes risked hampering the progress being made in the NHS.
Last week, it was announced that resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, would be getting a 5.4% average pay rise this year – more than other doctors, nurses and teachers.
Ed Balls and Susanna Reid presented Good Morning Britain on Thursday (May 29)READ MORE: Good Morning Britain baby announcement sparks fury as fans make Ofcom threatREAD MORE: Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid announces ‘horrific’ breaking news minutes into show
But they have said it’s not enough to make up for below-inflation pay awards since 2008.
On today’s GMB, Ed and Susanna welcomed Dr Ross Nieuwoudt from the resident doctors’ committee and Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs to discuss the situation.
“I absolutely believe in markets, but the NHS is not a market, it’s a socialised healthcare system. That is the fundamental point. If doctors want to be paid more, then let’s look at a social healthcare system,” Reem said.
“Let’s look at countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark that have public and private partnerships where there is competition.”
She added: “What I would like to see is the National Health Service as a whole, the spending that we’re using at the moment, being used more efficiently.”
A heated debate took place over the doctors’ strike
Ross thoroughly disagreed, saying: “I think that’s a foolish thing to do. A canary in a coal mine is there to alert people of danger, and that’s what the strikes are doing.”
Ed and Susanna then got involved, with the conversation becoming increasingly heated.
After watching the debate, viewers were left frustrated by the heated nature of the segment, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their disapproval.
“Why are they shouting??” one person wrote, with another adding: “Why is Ed Balls getting angry here? So unprofessional.”
A third said: “This is excruciating,” with another sharing: “Can you explain please why Ed Balls’s questioning and response to the young lady was more aggressive than to the BMA representative. Seems to forget he’s now supposed to be balanced as an interviewer and his political bias as a labour minister put on the back burner.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am