Ben Shephard hits out at Tory MPs for empty chairing GMB amid forecast of ‘doomsday’ recession-Charlotte Manning-Entertainment – Metro

Good Morning Britain host Ben Shephard has issued a plea to Tory MPs to ‘come and chat’ after an unknown minister shunned their spot on the programme on Friday morning. 

On Thursday, the Bank of England gave a ‘doomsday’ forecast, believing the country will enter a recession by Christmas which will last a total of 15 months.

A recession is declared in the UK when the economy consistently shrinks for six months or more. Inflation is set to hit 13% by October.

This was top of the list of the headlines on GMB on Friday morning, with both Charlotte Hawkins and Ben not downplaying the severity of the situation. 

Later on, in the programme, viewers were shown footage of an empty chair where a government minister would typically sit and answer questions. 

Ben said: ‘The government is facing criticism for being absent in a time of crisis. 

Ben urged a Tory MP to appear on the show (Picture: ITV)

‘We did invite a minister onto the show. Despite what we’ve just heard, they didn’t want to turn up.

He explained the excuse given was ‘they haven’t got time for us in their busy schedule.’

Ben went on to issue an invite to any Tory ministers who would be willing to come and chat on the programme

‘It would be nice to have a minister come in to join us and answer some of those questions, maybe put our minds at rest or give us some hope.

‘If they don’t come in, we can’t see that, can we,’ he pointed out. 

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

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