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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Kate Garraway and Ed Balls accused of 'shocking bias' in chat with Coronation protestor

Good Morning Britain viewers slammed Ed Balls and Kate Garraway and accused them of 'shocking bias' during an interview with a protestor who went to the King's Coronation.

Veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell appeared on the morning show to discuss the Metropolitan Police's response to peaceful protestors on Saturday.

It comes as it was confirmed that 64 people were arrested at the event.

The arrests resulted in a huge backlash from the public with many claiming their right to free speech diminished on the royal occasion.

Peter claimed that police officers initially agreed that the campaign group Republic were allowed to protest at the coronation.

He told the hosts: "We're very disappointed and angry at police behaviour. In the weeks prior, Republic had negotiated with the police and secured the agreement that a protest could take place.

Peter Tatchell appeared on GMB to discuss the police's response (ITV)

"They even designated the spot in Trafalgar Square. But on the day before the protests even began the six key organisers of the Republic were all arrested on fake charges by the police."

When Peter tried to continue with what happened, he was interrupted by Kate, who said: "What were the charges and why were they fake?"

Peter answered Kate's question before she interrupted again and asked whether he thought the arrests were "pre-emptive".

"Do you think that the purpose of pre-emptive policing is to try and prevent points of conflict, isn't it? And was that why they did it?" she said.

Ed and Kate were slammed for their 'biased' chat (ITV)

At one point, Ed swooped in to claim that the "police clearly had intelligence and they something changed."

When Peter said it wasn't true, Ed said: "I don't know if that's not true."

Kate later defended the Met and told the guests: "Can I just say because the Met Police aren't here, they're sort of damned if they do and damned in they don't, aren't they?"

Viewers were disappointed with the hosts and took to social media to criticise Kate and Ed for not being 'impartial' during the interview.

Police arrested 64 people at the event (PA)

"So disappointed in @edballs," one user said. "Can’t believe he doesn’t understand the issue with stopping protest/free speech in a supposed “democracy”. Whether you agree with a cause or not it’s worrying. I don’t expect better from Kate Garraway but him."

Another slammed the show: "What is wrong with Kate Garraway this morning - overly defending the police over the peaceful #NotMyKing @RepublicStaff protestors being arrested & getting personally offended over that the #Coronation wasn't worth it debate. Feels a bit biased to me."

"Why does Kate, always have to, have the last word?" one user questioned while another added: "Kate and Ed terribly biased today …shocking."

A disappointed user said: "Kate and Ed, shocking bias here! Completely missed the point!! Wow!! Unbelievable."

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