Good Morning Britain host Ed Balls was in a fiery clash with Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat as they discussed the new US, UK and Australia submarine deal.
The Aukus deal is a plan to create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, aimed at countering China's influence with cutting-edge tech.
Ed and co-host Susanna Reid interviewed the Minister of Security on the ITV breakfast programme on Tuesday morning and quickly clashed over defence spending.
Ed referred to an article the MP wrote last summer regarding the government’s allotment of spending and quoted him saying: “Your first paragraph said ‘Defence spending to 2.5 percent’ and you said ‘That is not enough. Anyone who says otherwise is either naive or has been captured by Treasury orthodoxy’.”
He then asked the Minister: “So are you naive or have you been captured by Treasury orthodoxy?”
However, as the MP and Ed continued to speak over each other, Tugendhat said: “Ed, I'm delighted for you to interview yourself, if you like, or you can listen to my answer to the question.”
Ed hit back saying: “You can answer it. What’s the answer?,” but as they continued to speak over one another, the MP said again: “Do you mind if I answer, or do you want to keep interviewing yourself?”
He then said: “What we need to do is make sure we have a defence and intelligence environment that addresses the needs of today.”
Taking a jab at Ed’s political career, he said: “The reality is that’s not just about submarines, tanks and helicopters you promised in Afghanistan when your man was Prime Minister and when your man was Chancellor, which we didn’t have when I was on the ground there.
“It’s about the capability to project force around the world. This Aukus deal actually delivers.”
Ed went on to ask if the MP ‘still stands by’ his article comments, saying: “You said 3 percent is the minimum [spending] we need? It’s an easy question.”
Tugendhat replied: “Ed, I spoke about 3 percent being defence and intelligence. That’s what I'm talking about,” and Ed hit back saying: “The third paragraph said defence.”
Tugendhat replied: “You should read the whole article,” and Ed insisted he had just read it out.”
“You haven't read the whole article,” Tugendhat replied. “You read the first paragraph. I know this is going to surprise you, but if you get beyond the first paragraph you might find there’s a bit more detail in there.”
Ed hit back saying: “I’m just asking you a question,” to which the MP said: “It does actually talk about intelligence as well.
“The reason that matters is because the modern armed forces doesn’t work as a solo operation. It works as a modern and integrated operation.”
Later in the interview Ed insisted the MP was ‘making it up’, to which he said: “I’m sorry but if you don’t listen to the argument it’s really difficult to have this discussion.”
