Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid held Sajid Javid’s feet to the fire on the ITV programme on Monday as he defended Boris Johnson amid a vote of no confidence in his premiership.
The ITV presenter returned on Monday alongside co-host Richard Madeley after the long four-day weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
During Monday’s programme, news broke that Boris Johnson is to face a vote of no confidence this evening after the threshold of 54 letters from Conservative MPs calling for his resignation was reached.
Following the news, health secretary Sajid Javid appeared remotely on the programme from Kingston Hospital to say the PM continues to have his support despite the upcoming vote.
The MP said: “I didn’t want to see it, but this is a decision from my colleagues collectively. I respect all my colleagues, I can understand why they’re frustrated.”
He then added: “I support the Prime Minister. Our party is at our very strongest when we’re united behind our leader.”
But later in the interview, Susanna brought up the controversies around Partygate and the revelations in the Sue Gray report.
She said: “There was one person who attended a number of those gatherings and that was the Prime Minister. In December 2021, you said you didn’t know if there had been gatherings. Do you feel you got clear and handed advice from the PM?”
Unfazed, the minister replied: “Yes I do,” but a nonplussed Susanna cut in to ask: “Really? You needed a report to tell you what the PM already knew?”
Javid replied: “The PM has been clear with the public as well after the Sue Gray report.”
Later in the interview, Richard Madeley asked the health secretary how long he anticipates Johnson will be in government in the wake of the vote of no confidence.
He replied: “The vote of confidence is happening. The Prime Minister will be speaking to colleagues tonight and making a very strong pitch to colleagues on not only what he has delivered, but also how to deal with the challenges ahead.”
Richard replied: “But history shows that when a Conservative party leader has to accept a vote of no confidence, even if he or she wins, they’re toast. That’s what history tells us.”
Javid replied: “This is an opportunity to unite behind the Prime Minister. I think he will win. It’s an opportunity to unite and get focused again and end all this frenzied speculation.”
ITV viewers at home labelled the interview a “car crash” and were left shocked the minister continues to defend the PM’s actions amid devastating Partygate revelations.
One wrote: “Javid drowning, he's trying to defend the PM but Susanna has got him,” as another savage viewer said: “Sajid Javid talking rubbish as usual.”
A third wrote: “Geeezzz the health sec lying through his teeth. Why is he defending this lying PM.”
Another tweeted: “Sajid Javid must think that the PM's decision to break the law, and to turn a blind eye to others' lawbreaking in his office, was not a "big decision".”
One concisely questioned: “Why back a liar” alongside a sceptical emoji.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
