Moment Ed Miliband 'gives up on Starmer' during tense Good Morning Britain grilling

Secretary of State for Energy Security Ed Miliband was quizzed by Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls this morning (Tuesday, April 21) about the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, which is being debated in the House of Commons today. After greeting the minister on the ITV show, Reid said: "Ed Miliband, can I ask, when Lord Mandelson was appointed as US Ambassador - these are the things which Keir Starmer did know. That there were financial conflicts of interest, that he had links to business in Russia and China... That he made disparaging remarks about the US President, and that he had an ongoing relationship with [Jeffrey] Epstein despite Epstein's conviction for paedophilia and that he had stayed in Epstein's New York house in 2009 while Epstein was serving the jail sentence.

"So, what did he need to know not to make that appointment? You've said, I think on the record this morning that you would not have made that appointment."

Following her detailed question, the Labour MP admitted: "OK, you're right, Susanna, about this in the sense that when you read that long list of things, clearly Peter Mandelson should not have been appointed."

Miliband's response shocked Good Morning Britain viewers, with some even claiming the Labour politician had "given up" on Starmer.

Taking to X, one person said: "Ed Miliband utterly defeated by Susanna Reid this morning #GMB."

Another viewer remarked: "Ed Miliband clearly given up on Keir #GMB."

A third claimed: "Ed Miliband distancing himself from the PM. Usually, it's the fake-friendly Keir this, Keir that, from all the toadies, but today it's very much just Keir Starmer! Save your own skin, Ed, carry on agreeing with everything Susanna and Ed Balls are saying!"

Meanwhile, another said: "So Miliband kept his mouth shut and said nothing. Even though he knew Mandelson was a danger."

Someone else penned: "Miliband wants to win the May 7th election. He's just made himself look worse."

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV from 6am on weekdays.