SNP MSPs were among those to criticise Ed Balls for an “unacceptable” interview with MP Zarah Sultana on far-right violence.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Sultana – who was recently suspended from Labour for voting against the two-child cap – was discussing the violent scenes in England and Northern Ireland over the weekend.
During the interview, Balls and Sultana clashed on how the riots were being described with Sultana asking if Keir Starmer had referred to them as “Islamophobic and racist”.
Neither of those "anchors" have any background training in journalism and boy, does it show in this condescending, bullying and frankly dismissive clip. @edballs stick to dancing and leave the journalism to journalists. How very quick to anger you are here.... https://t.co/VhoW3h4WYu
— Elena Whitham MSP (@ElenaWhitham) August 5, 2024
Speaking on Sunday, Starmer did make reference to “racist rhetoric” although host Kate Garraway asked the MP why describing them as "Islamophobic" was important.
When Garraway told Sultana “we have to ask you questions as well,” she replied: “Absolutely.”
However, Balls then started speaking over both by saying “and if you want to you can answer them” with Sultana hitting back to say she was going to let the host finish her question.
Asked specifically why it was important to use the word Islamophobia to describe the riots, Sultana said that mosques had been targeted but was continually interrupted by Balls telling her Starmer had condemned the riots.
Sultana also said labelling the riots as Islamophobic would “allow us to shape our response” and asked “why is it so hard” to use this word to describe the violence.
“I would also say that the role of the Labour Party, historically through New Labour, the controls on immigrations and also your article in The Guardian where you said the problem with Labour is that they have accepted too many eastern European migrants, we have to look at all of this, historically, over at least two, three decades…”
Balls said he believed he was right to make such a claim before Sultana challenged him on whether or not he believed discussions on immigration played a role in the riots seen over the weekend.
He replied: “I think if you fail to control and manage immigration properly then things go wrong.”
Balls continued to speak over Sultana as she said that rioters “are telling people like me to go home”.
“If we look at the language used by politicians and the language used by these people in these streets, you will see a direct correlation,” the MP said.
Sultana has since responded to the criticism of the interview in a post on Twitter/X, writing: "The media and political class is complicit in the far-right, racist and Islamophobic violence we're seeing across our country.
"This morning, I experienced the visceral denial of this reality."
She added in another post: "The sneering contempt of 'journalists' will never stop me from calling out racism and Islamophobic hate."
SNP MSP Elena Whitham was among those to criticise Balls, saying: “Neither of those ‘anchors’ have any background training in journalism and boy, does it show in this condescending, bullying and frankly dismissive clip.
“@edballs stick to dancing and leave the journalism to journalists. How very quick to anger you are here…”
Elsewhere, the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Christina McKelvie commented: "What a disgraceful interview by that panel, they should apologise immediately.
"There is something deeply uncomfortable about a white man trying to tell a woman of colour what racism is. GMB should apologise."
Another user agreed with McKelvie and said: “This is unacceptable & deeply uncomfortable viewing.
“An entire white panel questioning a brown woman like a suspect. Ed Balls and Kate have left their homes this morning with no fear.
“Zarah and every other brown/black person left knowing they are a target.”
Another added: “Does @GMB realise just how utterly ridiculous it looks by continuing to invite @edballs on as a presenter whilst he defends the actions of the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, his wife?”
Another described Balls’ interviewing as an “absolute disgrace” while another said it was an “uncomfortable watch”.
