Presenter Adil Ray has come under fire over a Good Morning Britain interview on Thursday’s show, with some viewers “switching off” over the discussion.
The ITV host was speaking to Minister of School Standards Catherine McKinnell, who joined the programme to talk about GCSE results. However, she was instead quizzed about the Epping Council decision on asylum seekers.
Mr Ray raised the subject after a High Court judge ordered the removal of asylum seekers from a hotel in Epping within 24 days following legal action by the local council.
Mr Justice Eyre granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction against the Bell Hotel on Tuesday, requiring all residents to vacate by September 12.
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ITV Good Morning Britain viewers ‘switched off’ from the interview
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The decision comes after weeks of protests outside the Essex hotel, prompting the council to argue that owners, Somani Hotels Limited, had breached planning regulations by using the premises for asylum accommodation rather than as a conventional hotel.
The government’s attempt to intervene in the proceedings was rejected by the judge earlier on Tuesday. Somani Hotels has announced its intention to appeal the decision.
On Thursday’s ITV programme, Mr Ray steered the conversation towards the topic as he stated: “We have seen this week that the Epping Council has won their case and the High Court has put a temporary injunction, meaning the asylum seekers in that hotel will have to leave within weeks.
“And we’re now thinking and hearing that this may be replicated across hotels across the country. Where else are you going to put these asylum seekers? What is the plan?”
Adil Ray decided to probe the education minister about the Epping hotel debate
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Ms McKinnell replied: “We inherited a huge mess in terms of our immigration system from the previous government. At its peak in 2023, they had 400 asylum hotels and it’s now down to 210.
“We’ve committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers, but we have said it will take to the end of this parliament to achieve that. There are many ways that we are tackling this, one of which, though, is to deal with the backlog of claims because many of these people are just waiting in these hotels for their asylum cases to be processed.
“So we are doubling the number of claims that are being processed. We’re deporting people who shouldn’t be here because once you make these decisions, you can take them.”
“What are you doing now about the number of people in that hotel, particularly?” Mr Ray pressed. “Let’s say in the Bell Hotel, we know they’ve got to move out in the next two weeks.
“That is a decision made by the High Court. Where are you going to put those initially?
“Because that is a real concern. Where are they going to be? Are they going to be put into another hotel in another town, in a nearby town? Where are they going to go?”
ITV viewers accused GMB’s Adil Ray of ‘shouting at the wrong person’
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“So you ask a very important question, and these are legitimate concerns that local communities have had,” Ms McKinnell responded. “We take it very seriously as a government, but I can’t speculate on what the Home Office is doing -“
“You don’t know, and there doesn’t seem to be a plan,” the presenter hit back.
The Labour MP for Newcastle North explained: “The Home Office is obviously dealing with a huge number of these challenges right around the country. We’re working very closely with local authorities, with local communities, with partner organisations to resolve what is the immediate challenge, but also the broader challenge of bringing down the waiting list.”
Viewers tuned into the programme didn’t take well to Mr Ray’s insistent questioning, with many taking to X to question why the host had aimed such questions at an education minister.
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GMB presenter Adil Ray sparked backlash on Thursday
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“Adil, you are also shouting at the wrong person….this is the minister for schools not the minister for immigration FGS try and do your jobs properly!!” one wrote on X.
A second confessed: “I’ve had to just switch off. Adil is just shouting his opinions rather than engaging in an interview. There’s no discussion about why people were protesting or about valid concerns about paying for vast numbers to arrive in the country.”
“@GMB getting mad at the Minister of School Standards for not knowing what the Home Office is going to do? She was there to celebrate GCSE results. What a farce of an interview,” another fumed.
“A dreadful interview, two presenters being rude and unprofessional, bullying someone on something that isn’t their job, it’s just opportunistic bullying,” someone else accused.
“If you are asking questions, @adilray, have the decency to allow them to answer. Please stop talking over them,” another requested.
One more added: “Sick of Adil Ray running a pro-illegal immigrant propaganda on #GMB. No, mate, we don’t want these illegals anywhere in the country. Deport.” (sic)