Susanna Reid and Ed Balls were distracted by an activist performing the song “Bye Bye Baby” with the lyrics “Bye Bye Boris” live on Good Morning Britain.
On Wednesday (6 July), the hosts were presenting the show from outside Westminster following the announcement that Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid had resigned from government the night before.
Sunak confirmed his resignation as chancellor immediately after former health secretary Javid revealed that he had also quit the government, in a huge blow to Boris Johnson.
As Balls was speaking, Reid was distracted by the opening lyrics to the 1975 Bay City Roller song being performed off screen. “Sorry, where’s that come from?” she said, asking: “Are we about to do karaoke?”
When the chorus kicked in, the presenters heard the busker singing “Bye bye Boris / Boris bye bye”.
Reid identified the singer as political activist Steve Bray, from Port Tablot in south Wales, who is know for his musical protests.
“It’s Steve Bray! It’s a Steve Bray protest, isn’t it?” she said. “I suppose if you're no longer allowed to shout, there are other ways of making your voice heard.”
Bray has gained a following after repeatedly being heard protesting against Brexit and the Conservative government on news broadcasts. Reid’s comment refers to the police removing his amplifiers earlier this year.
Johnson’s remaining senior ministers, including the foreign secretary Liz Truss, the deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, and the defence secretary Ben Wallace, have made it clear they are standing by the prime minister following Sunak and Javid’s resignations.
