Good Morning Britain viewers divided after Susanna Reid clashes with Just Stop Oil spokesperson

Susanna Reid divided the opinion of Good Morning Britain viewers after angrily ending a discussion with a Just Stop Oil protester on Wednesday morning.

The television presenter, 51, from London, and her co-host Ed Balls, 55, from Norwich, were joined on the show by Sam Johnson, from Essex, who is a construction worker and spokesperson for the group.

The panel got into a heated disagreement over the actions of Just Stop Oil, following the M25 being blocked for the third day in a row. Susanna began the discussion by claiming that the group “is a danger” as the demonstration has led to a lorry collision and injured police officer.

“Your viewers deserve to know that this disruption will end as soon as the Government makes a statement that they will stop all new oil and gas,” Sam said.

Susanna responded: “That sounds a bit like a threat.”

Sam said: “It’s not a threat, we’re in a serious situation.”

“This week Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, has said that we’re on a highway to climate hell.”

Ed argued that Antonio is right but would be unlikely to support causing disruption to get the point across, while Susanna added that the Just Stop Oil demonstrations have caused injuries and have been a distraction to drivers.

Sam said: “We would be happy to negotiate with the Government, if the Government wants to speak to us because they say it’s our demand, but this is the demand that everyone wants. We know that we need to make a transition to renewable energy.

“We know that carrying on with gas and oil like this is a death sentence to us all.”

Ed citied a poll claiming that Just Stop Oil is losing public support and argued the group is discouraging people from taking action against climate change.

Fraser Myers, who is deputy editor of Spiked, interjected that the group are moving away from scientific reports and pushing a “doomsday narrative”. Susanna then brought up a YouGov poll that shows the majority of people sympathise with the motorists who are affected by the actions of Just Stop Oil, rather than the protestors.

Sam tried to defend the group saying that there needs to be more of a focus on why they are causing disruption rather than what they are doing.

Susanna said: “The problem is people are distracted by what you are doing. It’s become the distraction.”

Ed added: “People hate you. [They think] the campaign is not a good way to proceed.”

Sam argued: “The media always want to talk about the what, we need to talk about the why”

“Have you watched this programme?,” Susanna asked.

Sam said: “No”

Susanna continued: “So you don’t have any idea what this programme does. You have no idea who our meteorologist is, Laura Tobin, who’s one of the most outspoken people on climate change.

“Who’s written an entire book talking about what we each need to do as individuals on climate change. And you have the audacity to come on here and say that we’re completely distracted, we’re not talking about the issues?

“We talk about them every single morning. You’re not getting people on your side, including people who would naturally be sympathetic to your cause. Sorry, I’m going to end it there because you’ve already said you don’t watch and you don’t care.”

Sam tried to interrupt Susanna but the segment swiftly ended and the show cut to the daily weather report.

Many Good Morning Britain viewers have taken to Twitter praising Susanna for ending the conversation with sam.

One wrote: “Good for shutting him down, especially as he hasn’t watched the show. He has done nothing for his cause apart from showing he is an idiot.”

Another said: “Well, Suzanne Reid certainly closed him down. But that aside, when he was given the opportunity to defend the protesters’ actions, he appeared to be all over the show and ill prepared....”

A third added: “Well done @susannareid100 for getting rid of the clown 👏👏👏”

A fourth commented: “Well done Susanna for shutting him down. He’s an idiot and if he is the best they have to “represent” them then they all as stupid as we thought.”

However, others were unimpressed and argued that Susanna should’ve let Sam speak more because they were interested in hearing his thoughts.

One wrote: “Susanna ,I was very disappointed in you today. You might not agree with Just Stop Oil, but don’t invite him into the studio , if all you intended to do was to  shut him down.”

Another said: “Horrible example of bullying on @GMB today #susannareid and #edballs setting about #JustStopOil then brimming with pride at their own behaviour all for viewing numbers. Prats.”

A third added: “Bullying at its worst should be ashamed I don’t agree with what they are doing but at least let him speak you might not like what he says Susanna but some of us want to listen”

The debate comes after police failed to stop at least ten protestors from causing disruption on the M25 this morning.

Among the traffic chaos sparked by Just Stop Oil was a lorry crash and a police officer knocked off a motorcycle.