Carol Vorderman Criticizes ITV for Giving Air Time to ‘Disgraced’ Politicians in Viral Clip

A viral clip of Carol Vorderman, former Countdown presenter, has stirred social media by slamming ITV for featuring disgraced politicians on shows like Good Morning Britain. In the footage, Vorderman specifically calls out former Conservative Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and criticizes mainstream news platforms for giving a voice to figures she believes have caused significant harm.

In the video, Vorderman expresses her disbelief over Kwarteng’s recent appearance on Good Morning Britain. “Today, I cannot get over how deferential we are to certain politicians who are a disgrace,” she says. “Kwasi Kwarteng was on Good Morning Britain this morning—what!?! ‘Oh, I’m just going to chat about the newspapers’—you crashed the economy, mate!”

Vorderman’s frustration stems from Kwarteng’s brief tenure as Chancellor, where his controversial economic policies under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss led to a sharp downturn in the UK economy. “You went off from the House of Commons to a drinks party with a billionaire and didn’t give a stuff,” Vorderman continues in the clip. “And yet he’s there [on GMB] as if it’s perfectly normal, reported The Mirror.

So I am not surprised by people watching that and thinking, ‘Hang on, you’re trying to tell me I should accept him as a valid voice now? Nah, sorry. I’m off to social media.’” The clip, which appears to be taken from a live event, was shared by a Twitter (X) user, captioned: “Last night ITV Peston and this morning GMB both platformed Kwasi Kwarteng. Carol Vorderman explains why so many people switch off when news programs platform the likes of Kwarteng.”

Kwarteng served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for just over a month in 2022, during Liz Truss’s ill-fated government. His economic policies were widely blamed for destabilizing the UK economy, causing mortgage rates to soar and billions to be wiped from pensions. Since stepping down, Kwarteng has frequently appeared on programs like Good Morning Britain and podcasts, sparking controversy over his continued media presence.

This isn’t the first time ITV has faced backlash for the politicians it chooses to feature. The network was widely criticized for allowing figures like Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage to participate in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Critics have accused ITV of “normalizing” controversial politicians, leading to heated debates about impartiality in the media.

Earlier this month, ITV faced scrutiny once again when Good Morning Britain co-host Ed Balls interviewed his wife, Labour MP and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The interview led to questions about the network’s impartiality, with even ITV’s top boss Dame Carolyn McCall addressing the controversy at the Royal Television Society (RTS) London Conference.

Responding to a query about ITV’s impartiality, McCall said, “It was a very, very tricky morning, there was a national emergency almost being called.” She noted that despite the short notice and pressure, Ofcom reviewed the segment and ruled that it was “fair, balanced, and impartial.”

While ITV continues to defend its editorial choices, Vorderman’s candid criticism has resonated with many viewers who feel disillusioned with mainstream media’s treatment of certain political figures.