Andy Burnham's migrant bombshell leaves GMB viewers furious after 'car crash' interview

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Andy Burnham's migrant bombshell leaves GMB viewers furious after 'car crash' interview The prime minister appeared on Good Morning Britain where he was grilled by the ITV hosts. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Michelle Marshall , Deputy Showbiz Editor 07:40, Mon, Oct 26, 2026 Updated: 07:58, Mon, Oct 26, 2026 Andy Burnham's migrant bombshell leaves GMB viewers furious after 'car crash' interview (Image: Getty) Andy Burnham appeared on Good Morning Britain but viewers fumed he is "out of his depth" after he was questioned by presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about immigration, Brexit and the cost of living crisis.

The prime minister announced on Monday a £432mn Budget plan to tackle rough sleeping, as chancellor John Healey prepares to unveil a fiscal statement aimed at reassuring markets while finding cash for Labour’s social objectives ahead of Wednesday. The prime minister will claim that everyone sleeping rough in England will be offered a route off the street or given support before Christmas. During his appearance on Monday's show, Susanna questioned if the prime minister was "softening us up" for a General Election but Burnham is adamant he will not be asking voters to head to the polls anytime soon.

She then asked: "Why have you brought up re-joining the European Union ?" Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT It comes after the prime minister says he would welcome an "honest discussion" about the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and European Union. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Andy Burnham said a new relationship with Brussels could include full EU membership or joining the single market, requiring free movement.

Burnham told GMB viewers: "We have a decade of experience now, looking back at Brexit . I don' think it has played out the way people said at the time. We've got a harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum camp. It's weakened our economy and it's weakened our control of immigration. That might surprise people because that was the big issue." In a bombshell claim, he said: "But no, the small boats crisis has arisen since. We have a different form of migration now."

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT ITV viewers hit out online as Burnham was dealt a huge blow, as one fumed: "These are all questions that Radio 4 Today programme wouldn’t have asked. They would have asked what he’s doing in this parliament. Burnham must be very pleased he chose @gmb." A second commented: "He has given me no confidence that he knows what he's doing. I cannot believe this is the best labour can do. Weak leadership #gmb."

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT A third wrote: "Burnham, you don’t need the EU to tackle illegal immigration. Stop making excuses and start being honest with the public! #GMB." While others slammed the hosts, as one fumed: "Stop bloody interrupting him Richard and Susanna! Appalling interview etiquette #GMB." Another argued: "FFS @susannareid100 how many times & how many ways are you going to ask THE SAME QUESTION he said NO he WILL NOT rerun the #Brexs**t referendum." (sic) This is a breaking live TV story, the Showbiz Express.co.uk team will be updating this story with the latest information as soon as we receive it.

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What we found (2)

The Express puts 'car crash' in quotation marks in its headline when no viewer it quotes uses those words. It tells readers that viewers were furious with Burnham, although its own body and other coverage show much of the anger was aimed at the presenters for interrupting him. In its own voice it dresses an ordinary remark about Brexit and small boats as a 'bombshell' and a 'huge blow'.

Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“'car crash'”
Why this matters
The headline puts 'car crash' in quotation marks, as if a viewer or critic said it.
The impression it gives
A reader believes viewers or commentators described the interview as a 'car crash'.
The context
None of the viewer posts the article quotes uses the phrase. The posts complain of 'Weak leadership' and, from others, of the presenters' 'Appalling interview etiquette'. The quoted words come from no one named in the article.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“Appalling interview etiquette #GMB.”
- Elsewhere in the article“Weak leadership #gmb.”
Show it in the article
“leaves GMB viewers furious”
Why this matters
The headline says Burnham's remarks left viewers furious, pointing all the anger at him.
The impression it gives
A reader believes viewers turned on Burnham over what he said.
The context
The article's own body reports that others slammed the hosts and told them to stop interrupting him. The Mirror's report of the same interview says the presenters spent much of it interrupting Burnham and that this was what angered viewers.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“While others slammed the hosts, as one fumed: "Stop bloody interrupting him Richard and Susanna!”
- Daily Mirror reported“Both Presenters spent a large % of it simply interrupting Andy Burnham”Good Morning Britain viewers fume over Andy Burnham interview 'stop interrupting' (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Written straight
Andy Burnham says Brexit weakened UK control of immigration in GMB interview, as viewers split between criticising him and the presenters' interruptions.
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“migrant bombshell”
Why this matters
The headline calls Burnham's comments on immigration a 'migrant bombshell' in the outlet's own voice.
The impression it gives
A reader expects a shocking new announcement on migration.
The context
What Burnham said was a view on Brexit: that it weakened the economy and control of immigration, and that the small boats crisis arose afterwards. The article reports no new migration policy.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“It's weakened our economy and it's weakened our control of immigration.”
Show it in the article
“In a bombshell claim”
Why this matters
The Express labels a single remark that the small boats crisis arose after Brexit a 'bombshell claim'.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the remark as a startling revelation.
The context
The remark is a political argument about timing that Burnham himself framed as a point about how Brexit played out. The Independent reports it plainly as Burnham blaming Brexit for the migrant crisis.
How we know
- The Independent reported“Andy Burnham has blamed Brexit for Britain's migrant crisis”Andy Burnham blames Brexit for Britain's migrant crisis (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
“Burnham was dealt a huge blow”
Why this matters
In its own voice the Express says Burnham was dealt a huge blow, on the strength of a few viewer posts.
The impression it gives
A reader believes something politically damaging happened to Burnham.
The context
The only basis given is a handful of social media posts, some of which defend him and attack the presenters. The article reports no poll, vote or event that amounts to a blow.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“how many ways are you going to ask THE SAME QUESTION”
Show it in the article

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Andy Burnham's migrant bombshell leaves GMB viewers furious after 'car crash' interview

Headline goes beyond the article

Uses a loaded word

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