Ed Balls has been labelled a “bully” by ITV Good Morning Britain viewers following his conduct towards health minister Karin Smyth on Tuesday’s show.
The presenter insisted on pressing the minister about Labour’s tax pledges ahead of tomorrow’s budget, which Ms Smyth explained she couldn’t discuss, but Mr Balls refused to allow her to speak in response.
“Can you just check because I’m sure you were at the parliamentary meeting last night, could we just check what is the current status of Labor’s manifesto tax pledges?” the presenter asked.
He continued: “The Prime Minister says we will not raise VAT National Insurance or Income Tax. At the conference, both Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves said they stand by the manifesto.
Ed Balls yelled at the health minister on Tuesday’s GMB
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ITV
“Last week, Keir Starmer refused to repeat those words, and a week ago, Rachel Reeves was doing interviews with the BBC saying she was going to break the manifesto.
“What did she tell you last night? Are these manifesto pledges still intact? Will you repeat them today? Or are you going to agree with Keir Starmer and and not talk about them?”
“I was at most of the meeting last night,” Ms Smyth responding, continuing: “Rachel was in great form. I can’t talk about specifics of tomorrow, as you said.
“The focus on cost of living and protecting the NHS, which is what I’m here to talk about today, the changes that we’re making-“
Loudly yelling over the the MP, Mr Balls pushed: “Just my question,” before Ms Smyth replied: “I’m not going to talk about any tax stuff, and I think you know that.”
Refusing to accept her answer, the presenter argued: “But you said as a Member of Parliament in the election on a manifesto promise.
“I’m simply asking you, can you repeat this morning, is the Government line today that you can repeat the tax pledges for the manifesto. That’s a simple yes or no.
‘Does the manifesto stand?’@edballs and @susannareid100 challenge Health Minister Karin Smyth about whether the Labour manifesto is ‘still in tact.’
The Health Minister refuses to directly answer Ed and Susanna’s question about the tax pledges the Labour Party made. pic.twitter.com/VmDfWpJKA6
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 25, 2025
“And I would like you to tell me that those tax pledges are still intact and repeat them or not, your choice.”
“I’m not going to talk about anything to do with tax today, the day before the budget, I understand where you’re leading me to,” Ms Smyth repeated, adding: “Rachel will outline everything.”
“I’m simply asking to tell me whether the manifesto-” Mr Balls attempted once again before the MP echoed: “She’ll outline everything tomorrow.”
“No, no, I’m still, I’m asking you,” Mr Balls insisted. “Did Rachel Reeves say last night that the manifesto pledges stand, as she said two months ago or not?”
“I wasn’t at the entire meeting last night, the meeting that I was there for, the focus was on rallying the troops, talking ahead of Wednesday, the sorts of broad brush issues that she will be addressing tomorrow,” the Health Minister responded.
“That was the focus of last night’s meeting, and I think some of those quotes have got out this morning.”
“So you cannot repeat anything this morning about manifesto pledges?” Mr Balls continued, prompting the MP to repeat once again she won’t be answering anything that could lead to talks on the budget.
Karin Smyth appeared on GMB on Tuesday
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ITV
“So the manifesto pledges are going to be off the table?” Mr Balls probed.
Ms Smyth explained: “No, I’m going to talk about the delivery of our manifesto with regards to health, as we outlined in the 10-year health plan, our commitment to transform how the health service is delivered.
“Thanks to the decisions that the chancellor made in last year’s budget, we’ve been able to make improvements in the health service, and today I’m talking about delivering those neighborhood health centers, starting off in the most deprived communities, transforming the way we deliver care.
“So we base care around people, not expecting people to jump through the various hoops of getting care in the NHS, and that is what I am focused on in the health team.”
Viewers expressed their frustration with Mr Balls over the “car crash” interview on X, with one admitting: “I’m not pro any Party at present but (however it was couched) it was unequivocally a question via the back door about the Budget, not about the manifesto, and we could all see through that.”
Ed Balls pressed on the matter with Karin Smyth
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ITV
A second penned: “Another Ed Balls up interview?” while another wrote: “Karyn Smith being bullied by Ed Balls. #GMB.”
“The conduct of the hosts is unprofessional and actual bullying. You shout, speak over them, interrupt them on a regular basis. Should be used not to teach children on how NOT to behave.#gmb,” another shared.
“She’s the Health Minister and because the Budget isn’t today!” someone else argued.
However, others defended Mr Balls’s approach to the interview. One viewer commented: “Karin Smyth has been absolutely destroyed by Ed Balls this morning. That interview was a car crash #GMB #Labour.”
“What a car crash interview on #GMB WITH @karinsmyth #Labour are coming over as arrogant and patronising. They are the #Tories in disguise and are ruining any chance of increasing their popularity!” another agreed.
One more added: “Struggling to feel sympathy for @karinsmyth on @GMB right now… Expected questions so where’s the charm, the gravitas and a bit of humour to deal with the onslaught? #GMB #budget2025.” (sic)