ITV's Good Morning Britain presenter Paul Brand faced backlash from viewers after posing a question to Mick Lynch that the RMT union boss blasted as “completely untrue”. The trade unionist appeared on the programme yesterday as tens of thousands of rail workers went on strike, causing travel chaos across the UK.
In the fresh round of industrial action, employees from Network Rail and 14 train companies walked out in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Lynch was interviewed by veteran presenter Kate Garraway and ITV news editor Paul Brand, who was making his presenting debut the popular morning show.
Speaking from the picket line, the union leader started laughing after Paul asked a question regarding his salary. As reported by the Mirror, he queried: “What support are you giving members, because you’re on a six figure salary? I’m not going to demonise you for that this morning. Politicians are on a six figure salary.”
Yet Mick was quick to interrupt, refuting the claim, saying: “I’m not. I’m not on a six figure salary. That’s completely untrue.”
Paul replied: “So the newspaper reports are untrue,” before Mick demanded: “Where did you get that from? I’m not on a six figure salary. They’re wrong and not telling the truth.”
Paul then came back saying: “Well you’re on significantly more than many of your members are and, like I say, I’m not interested in demonising you for that this morning. What I’m trying to ask you here is, you’ve got members on very low salaries – how much longer can they really continue with these strikes?
“You might be committed to them and you say your members are but many of them are going to start feeling the pain soon aren’t they?”
Mick replied: “Of course they feel the pain. They’re making a sacrifice to stand up for their rights, to stand up for safety, to stand up for the ability for workers to earn a living. You don’t get anything without being committed to a cause and our members are fully committed.”
Good Morning Britain viewers were left deeply unimpressed with the exchange, which was slammed as “clueless” on Paul’s part. One wrote: “WTF has Mick Lynch's salary got to to with anything?”
“‘I’m not demonising’ BUT Paul Brand is absolutely clueless on the English language and what words actually mean,” another wrote.
A third tweeted: “This Paul Brand fella let himself down, firstly stating that Mick Lynch is on a six figure salary, which is wrong, then saying that he doesn't want to demonise him for it. What was the point of saying it then? Don't get your info from outlets that are trying to demonise him.”
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