Viewers of Good Morning Britain praised Susanna Reid for questioning Suella Braverman about her statements regarding the number of migrants seeking to enter the Country.
The Home Secretary was interviewed on Wednesday’s episode of GMB, after Braverman’s statements in the House of Commons implying that 100 million migrants intended to enter the nation illegally – and that “billions” more might be on the way.
Home Secretary Braverman had told the Commons that ‘one hundred million displaced around the world, and likely billions more eager to come here is possible.’
Reid was hugely sceptical of the figures, and didn’t hold back during Braverman’s first appearance on GMB, asking her bluntly: ‘On what planet is that possible?’
Braverman evaded questions about ‘100 million’ and ‘billions’ of migrants, instead claiming that 45,000 people landed in the UK in small boats last year, a ‘unsustainable number.’
Reid fought back, pointing out that ‘only a fifth [of the 100 million displaced] had ever left their own country, and 45,000 were on boats heading to the UK.
She went on: ‘So what we’re dealing with now is tens of thousands, isn’t it?’
‘What we’re dealing with is an unsustainably high number,’ Braverman replied, with Reid continuing: ‘It’s tens of thousands.’
Despite refusing to answer the question, Braverman stated that 85,000 individuals have landed in the UK on tiny boats since 2018, and asked Reid if she thought that was ‘an acceptable and sustainable level.’
To which Reid replied: ‘I am not disputing whether you think it’s acceptable or not. But it is a fact that we are dealing with tens of thousands and you have used the word billions.
‘People want you to explain the justification for the use of the word billions when it is a fact that there is only tens of thousands have made their way here on the boats.’
Braverman failed to substantiate the number of billions once more.
Fans were irritated by Braverman’s lack of a direct explanation and flocked to Twitter to thank Reid for questioning the lawmaker.
One commenter stated that there was ‘no justification at all’ for Reid’s use of the phrase ‘billions or even millions,’ and that Reid was ‘completely correct to call her out on this.’
Another applauded Reid for ‘fighting’ what they termed ‘the vile and awful speech,’ while another applauded her for her ‘brave attempt to react honestly to her absurd allegations.’
One disgruntled viewer said it was an effort to ‘terrify the audience with massive statistics, pulled from thin air, while one more wrote simply: ‘Good work Susanna. Thank you.’
The Home Office’s new strategy to deter unauthorised boats transporting migrants from reaching the UK has sparked outrage, with Match of the Day broadcaster Gary Lineker risking a reprimand from the BBC after expressing his displeasure on social media.
Lineker reacted to Braverman’s Twitter video in which she revealed government plans to halt migrant boats from crossing the Channel, calling it ‘an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.’
Conservative legislators slammed his remarks and asked the BBC to take action.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV