Adil Ray has come under fire from Good Morning Britain viewers for an unusual question that they've branded 'stupid'. The presenter and actor was back at the helm of the show on Monday (April 18) alongside Kate Garraway.
During the Easter Monday programme, the hosts were joined via video link from outside Westminster by MP Greg Hands, who is Minister of State for Business, Energy, and Clean Growth.
Kate kicked off the interview by asking the Conservative Party politician about the Partygate scandal which continues to rumble on as fresh allegations are made about a separate event to the one Prime Minister Boris Johnson was issued a fine for last week.
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Despite being fined by the Metropolitan Police for his birthday bash held in the Cabinet room in June 2020, while coronavirus restrictions were in place, the Prime Minister is expected to tell MPs on Tuesday that this should not be the focus of politicians. Mr Johnson is reported to be preparing to make a statement in the Commons once MPs return to Westminster following the Easter recess.
It also comes after a thinly-veiled reference to standards in politics by one of the Church of England’s most senior clergymen, the Archbishop of York, who used his Easter sermon on Sunday, Stephen Cottrell urged Britons to ask what sort of country they wanted to live in.
However, the conversation between Kate, Adil, and Mr Hands soon moved on to another matter that has attracted plenty of debate in recent days. The Government announced its plans to send asylum seekers who cross the English Channel in small boats to Rwanda.
More than 160 charities and campaign groups have called on the Government to scrap "shamefully cruel" plans which were announced on Thursday (April 14) after the Home Secretary Priti Patel has come under sustained pressure to stop asylum seekers making the perilous journeys across the Channel in small boats.
Moving on to ask Mr Hands about the plans, Adil said: "Here we are celebrating Easter this weekend, the life and times of Jesus Christ who himself was a refugee. Under this scheme, Priti Patel, Boris Johnson, your Government's scheme, if he arrived from the UK today, Jesus would be sent to Rwanda."
He added: "Is that right? Would you send Jesus to Rwanda?" before Mr Hands laughed and tried to respond. "I think we could debate the Easter story..." he said but as he did so, Adil butted in: "It's a simple question."
The point is this a Government policy, 20,000 years later..." Mr Hands tried to continue as Adil said over him: "I'm asking you... you're not answering the question, sorry. Mr Hands, you've not answered the question."
As the presenter carried on, Mr Hands interjected: "I'm sorry, I think it's a ludicrous question," before the talking over one and other continued.
And GMB viewers were quick to have their say on social media.
@Stepharrnee tweeted: "Would you send Jesus to Rwanda lol, what a stupid question #GMB."
"@GMB JESUS to Rwanda is the deal I wasn’t expecting to hear this morning. #gmb," @Pippymufc commented.
@apoyntzroberts said: "'Would you have sent Jesus to Rwanda?', ridiculous questioning on @GMB today! #gmb."
"Adil Ray saying that if Jesus was alive he would have been sent to Rwanda is a bloody awful comparison where does this moron get his stupid comments from #GMB," @JamesKentAVFC wrote.
@philm2244 fumed: "Would you send Jesus to Rwanda! What a ridiculous question. This interviewer is an idiot! Both interviewers are shouting aggressively. Why should I watch this rubbish! #gmb."
