Good Morning Britain viewers fumed as Jake Berry refused to apologise for his recent comments, when he suggest people could either cut their spend or get a new higher paid job to pay their energy bills.
The UK is in a cost of living crisis currently, with bills soaring and many struggling to make ends meet.
The Tory chairman was accused of 'living on another plane' as he defended tax cuts for the rich which was made in Liz Truss 's mini-Budget.
At the time, he had told Sky News that the Tory policy was about "the right motivation and in truth, it’s how households work," adding: "People know that when their bills arrive, they can either cut their consumption or they can get a higher salary, higher wages, go out there and get that new job. That’s the approach the government is taking so households can afford their bills."
Understandably, his comment received much furore from people up and down the country, with UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea fuming that "the government was living on another planet".
As he appeared on Good Morning Britain today, Mr Berry apologised that his comments were "misinterpreted" but refused to fully apologise for what he said. He did admit what he said was "clumsy".
As presenter Kate Garraway asked what he would advise a nurse to do when they look at their pay packet, Mr Berry replied: "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify the comments I made.
"I accept actually they were ever so clumsy and I'm sorry if people misinterpreted them. They were part of a larger interview. The real point I was trying to make, probably in a terrible and clumsy way, was that the approach of the government is to grow the economy."
Mr Berry continued to double down on his comments, refusing to apologise for them wholly.
"You don't have to tell me what graft is. I represent an east Lancashire constituency with people working in manufacturing. And I want their employers to create new roles which are highly paid and more secure and that's the point I was trying to make. I accept I made it clumsy and I apologise for making it in relation to nurses. I wanted to clarify it," he added.
Angry fans of the ITV breakfast show fumed over his comments.
"#gmb Jake Berry saying he is clumsy! That is his explanation! This shows how out of touch the Tories are," one wrote, as another added: " @jakeberry you are a professional politician. Speaking in a "clumsy" way is no excuse. You knew what you were saying. Another u turn from the Tories. #GMB."
"Jake Berry Tory Chair …. on #GMB doing his best to appear like he cares…. Honestly? If your buying wot he is selling then I doubt your struggling with the cost of living crisis," another viewer fumed.
