Labour minister humiliated on BBC Breakfast as 'breaking news' leaves her squirming on air

BBC Breakfast viewers were less than impressed with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's reaction to the latest figures on the UK economy. Charlie Stayt asked the Labour Minister about the breaking news that the economy's growth has been less than she was hoping. She admitted that the latest numbers showed it grew by 0.3% between April and June, and added: "It's a lower figure than we would want." Bridget was left squirming and said that she wants to see "much more", adding that there will be "a real focus" on growth and productivity at the Budget later this year. Pointing to interest rate cuts, she argued: "This government has stabilised the economy" and "we've seen more people in work".

Viewers who watched the interview on BBC Breakfast had their say on the Labour Minister, with some saying on one hand that she was "clueless". One person typed: "When pressed about student loans and the cost of going to university, she proved that Labour are no better they the Tories. A liar, absolutely pathetic." [sic]

A second also commented on X: "Unlike the student loan figure of 9%....an opportunity to actually do something yet she confirms they're not going to. All talk. No action. In education and every other Dept of this shambolic Government."

A third similarly echoed: "Country never fully recovered from sub-prime mortgage scandal and consequently the Global financial crash 2008. Add on 14 years of Tory austerity. Add Brexit. Add pandemic."

A fourth simply typed: "Another clueless amateur."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says today's figures are positive and "beat expectations". She said: "That is why we're investing to rebuild our national infrastructure, cutting back on red tape to get Britain building again and boosting the national minimum wage to make work pay. There's more to do, and today's figures only fuel my ambition."

Meanwhile, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride says Reeves "is taxing your future to fund her failure." He says that the Labour government has seen "taxes hiked, inflation almost double, unemployment rise, and growth stagnate. Looming tax rises will only make things worse, and working people will pay the price."