The Good Morning Britain studio turned uncomfortable on Thursday morning as Ranvir Singh and Ben Shephard interviewed Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
The MP appeared on the programme and was questioned in the wake of her comments that Conservative leadership hopeful Liz Truss was wearing “circa £4.50 Claire's Accessories” earrings.
ITV presenter Ranvir questioned Dorries remotely, as she called into the show from Birmingham, where the Commonwealth Games got underway today.
Ranvir asked Nadine about the cost of the earrings she’s wearing today and Nadine said: “These were a Christmas present from my granddaughter.
“She was born in August, so she’s 11 months old, so this was her first Christmas present to her nana, so I’ve no idea how much they cost.”
Dorries’ remark on Truss’ earrings was shared on Twitter alongside a Daily Mail article that accused Truss’s challenger, former chancellor Rishi Sunak, of wearing a £3,500 bespoke suit on Sunday and £490 Prada loafers.
On resurfaced interviews since the tweet where Nadine admitted spending thousands on jewellery and clothes, Ranvir asked Nadine if she felt her comments about Liz’s earrings and Rishi’s suits had backfired.
She said: “Not at all, in fact those earrings were bought for me by my late husband for our 25th wedding anniversary.
“So, what it did do is highlight the fact that Rishi was wearing those shoes in one of the most socially deprived areas of the country.
“It was sending a message that you need to be able to make the right judgement calls to be able to empathise with people to demonstrate you’ve walked in their shoes and understand their lives.
She continued: “I lived the first 25 years of my life on a council estate, so I make no apologies for having got to where I’ve got and wearing the earrings I want to wear. It may surprise you to know I’m not standing for leadership.”
The MP then went on to deny reports that senior figures in Liz Truss’ team have asked her to tone down her “public remarks” following her tweet.
She said of the reports: “I can tell you 100 per cent that comment is totally fabricated.”
However, as Ranvir then turned the tense conversion to further questions on the Tory leadership contest, Dorries refused to play ball and asked the presenters to talk instead about the Commonwealth Games.
She said: “Shall we focus on the Lionesses and the positives over what’s happening over the next five days in the UK.”
However, Ben was then heard repeating the MP’s name as he tried to cut in, saying: “We’ve been on air since 6 o’clock. We’ve been talking about Birmingham every hour.
“We are celebrating it and the Lionesses unquestionably. But we only get you for 15 minutes, so I hope you appreciate that we want to talk about the Commonwealth Games.
"We are thrilled they’re going to be in Birmingham and be a great success, but we do also need to ask you about some of the other pressing issues that the political landscape is facing.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
