Michael Gove came under fire as he attempted a Scouse accent on today's edition of BBC Breakfast.
The Levelling Up Secretary was interviewed by Dan Walker over the rising cost-of-living crisis. Labour criticised the Conservative party for not announcing more support packages in yesterday's Queen's Speech and urged the government to introduce an emergency budget to address the crisis.
There was confusion surrounding the Prime Minister's plan yesterday when Boris Johnson appeared to suggest more support would be revealed in "the days to come" before the Treasury ruled out short term financial measures. Mr Gove adopted a "bizarre" Scouse accent and referenced a 90s Harry Enfield sketch to defend the government's approach - as he suggested people should "calm down" over the financial crisis.
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He added: "The Prime Minister was making the point clearly that we are constantly looking at ideas in order to ensure that we relieve the pressure on people who are facing incredibly tough times, but that doesn't amount to an emergency budget.
"It’s example of some commentators chasing their own tails and to take a statement that is commonsensical, turning it into a major– capital letters – a big news story. In fact, when the Treasury quite rightly say, ‘Calm down' then people instead of recognising that they overinflated the story in the first place, then say this is clearly a split."
Mr Gove also adopted an American accent during the response - and the "bizarre" interview was blasted by viewers following the show on Twitter.
Liverpool ECHO's political editor Liam Thorp said: "Gove in a truly unhinged performance here that appears to veer between a dodgy American accent and Harry Enfield’s Scouser."
Charlie said: "Did I just watch Michael Gove attempt a Liverpool accent on #BBCBreakfast just now? And someone’s turned the condescension boost to full. Endearing, it was not"
Sonja added: "Did I really just hear Gove say 'calm down' in a fake Liverpudlian accent?"
Jodie posted: "Did Michael Gove just put on a scouse accent to say ‘calm down’ or did I imagine it?"
Beverley tweeted: "Gove on @BBCBreakfast today was nothing but bizarre making strange voices, odd very odd"
Breda commented : "A truly bizarre romp from "doesn't have a scooby" to Harry Enfield's Scouser "calm down". What did Gove have for breakfast today?"
Pete posted: "A bizarre moment in which Michael Gove’s accent switches from his usual soft Scottish/English to American to SCOUSE"
Liam said: "Okay so this happened. What has Gove had for breakfast. This is bizarre"
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer
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