Ranvir Singh and Robert Rinder issued an update as Keir Starmer faced a ‘humiliating move’ from the USA’s White House.
Good Morning Britain presenters Ranvir and Rob (Image: ITV)
Presenters Ranvir Singh and Robert Rinder halted Good Morning Britain on Monday to share a ‘humiliating’ update on the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer is currently under pressure as the US weighs in on the ongoing free speech row.
Ranvir explained: “The main news this morning, in what has been described as a ‘humiliating move’ for Sir Keir Starmer, the White House has confirmed that it is monitoring the case of Lucy Connolly.” She went on to explain a bit more about the situation, adding: “She is the wife of an ex-Conservative councillor. You may remember that she was jailed for 31 months for inciting racial hatred after posting online following the Southport attacks.
Keir Starmer was hit with a ‘humiliating blow’ from the US (Image: Getty)
“Her appeal was rejected last week, confirming that she will now remain in custody until August.” Rob then chimed in as he told the ITV audience that campaigners “have raised the case with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio.” He said that they had described Starmer’s rules as “draconian hate speech laws across Europe”.
“The move is the latest sign of Donald Trump‘s willingness to intervene in British affairs,” the GMB presenter continued. “It comes amid escalating tensions between the US administration and the British government over freedom of expression.”
The ITV show then explained that the US state department has reportedly put out a statement which said that they are “monitoring the case”, adding: “The US support freedom of expression, at home and abroad, and remains concerned about infringements.”
The presenters cut to a clip of Free Speech Union’s Lord Toby Young, who said: “For them to be monitoring free speech abuses in the United Kingdom is humiliating.”
In response, at last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said that he is “strongly in favour of free speech but equally against incitement to violence and always supports police and courts in acting to keep people safe”.
Fans of Good Morning Britain were split on the update, with some thinking the US input was a good thing while others were massively against it. One fan wrote on X/Twitter: “Excellent news. Glad to see that @WhiteHouse is taking an interest in the blatant two tier administration of justice in the #UK.”
Another added: “Starmer has to answer to Trump. Brilliant.” While one more shared: “Well, if the White House’s got time to weigh in on someone’s social media spat, they’ve got their priorities all wrong. Proper Yorkshire would say, sort your own backyard first.”