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Chronicle Live

Entertainment

Aaron Morris

Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid forced to shut down heated debate involving Ed Balls

Ed Balls Susanna Reid Narinder Kaur Thomas Skinner Britain St George (Person) Carol Vorderman England

Good Morning Britain presenter Ed Balls was branded 'ignorant' by a vexed guest during this morning's show, forcing co-host Susanna Reid to interject before things escalated further.

Guest Narinder Kaur made her thoughts and feelings towards Ed and fellow guest Thomas Skinner's views, as the ITV panel debated whether residents across the United Kingdom are ashamed to be English.

It comes amid the upcoming coronation of King Charles III next month, in which Ed noted that 'lots of Union Jacks and St George's flags' will be waved around Great Britain for the monumental and historic event.

Ed started the segment by saying: "The Coronation of King Charles and the Queen Consort will be a lavish and grand celebration of our heritage. Lots of Union Jacks and St George's flags on that day, but will it make you proud?

"Apprentice star and proud Englishman Thomas Skinner faced criticism on Sunday for tweeting a photo celebrating St George's Day, with some people online saying it wasn't a good look. So, are people actually ashamed of being English?"

Narinda Kaur argues with Ed Balls over the England flag (ITV)

The show then panned to Thomas, who was sat waving the St George's flag, as Ed continued: "Thomas Skinner joins us now along with broadcaster Narinda Kaur, who says it's hard to be proud of being English right now, and she worries the coronation is going to make things worse."

Narinder explained: "Yes that is right, I do - I think it's very hard. Unfortunately, the St George's flag...We should have national pride, I feel that every Englishman and woman should feel pride but we can't feel pride when that flag has been hijacked by far-right groups, and what it actually represents is this ideology that by some virtue of a piece of cloth that we are superior to other nations.

"And they conveniently forget our history of slavery links, of colonisation, and a history of genocide and everything that we've built up. And most countries celebrate independence day - cause I've seen a lot of people on social media saying 'well Ireland celebrate and America celebrate'.

"They celebrate because they come out of tyranny or invasion - England were the oppressors, they were the suppressors. England have got nothing to celebrate because they suppressed half of the world, and some how they suffer from this Napoleon like complex..."

Ed interrupted: "We did save Europe from fascism by defeating Hitler and pushing him back," with Narinder carrying on: "It doesn't work like that," before the pair began raising their voices and speaking over each other in a scramble to put their points across.

Narinder clapped back: "It's not just saying because you're being ignorant actually Ed, because there's ignorance in that - because you're saying actually well we saved it from fascism. We did do that, however you should also acknowledge how much genocide and colonialism and theft has gone on in this country."

Ed continued: "You said there was nothing to be proud about being English and I'm saying, when France was occupied and all of the European countries, and America was out of the war, we stood alone, pushed back fascism and stopped oppression across Europe."

To which Narinder added: "Yes you did, but you also had a lot to do with suppression across the whole of the world," before asking Ed if he was 'proud of slavery links and colonialism'.

"It's this fingers in ears and blowing raspberries, we don't talk about that - lets talk about the one good thing that we did," Narinder went on, adding: "And of course you should be proud of that. However, you don't seem to acknowledge that. It's that kind of ignorance that I don't like, Ed. I get a lot of that."

As Thomas was sat 'just over here with my flag', smiling away, Susanna interjected: "Are you saying that because the UK, England was responsible for things for which we should be ashamed, that we should be permanently ashamed?"

To which, Narinder replied: "Not permanently but I don't like this fingers in ears blowing raspberries, so what we actually defeated fascism. I don't like that."

Susanna continued: "No, no, no but clearly Ed is not putting his fingers in his ears," with Narinda branding Ed's stance on the matter 'weak', adding that 'the good people of Britain will always want diversity and multiculturism' which should be celebrated.

And a number of social media users quickly took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the debate - with views from both sides. One, wrote: "#GMB Narinda, your delivery is so poor. Shouting and being aggressive will not get your point across. You have valid points but unfortunately your attitude stinks!!"

Another, added: "That was ridiculous. Narinda didn't give anyone a chance to speak. I had to turn over her voice was annoying me!" while a third, penned: "Why on Earth do they get Narinda on to debate an issue... She my as well sit there arguing with herself because no one else manages to get more than a few words in. #GMB."

A fourth, went on: "@GMB despite being too loud, Narinda has some valid points. BUT how long to we have to make up for the mistakes of our ancestors? I wouldn’t do what they did, it’s harsh to taint us all with the same brush."

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