As Boris Johnson prepares to leave today, incensed viewers have blasted ITV after Lorraine was abruptly cancelled and Loose Women was canceled entirely.
Following the revelation that Boris Johnson is getting ready to leave today, ITV’s morning show Lorraine has been suspended in the middle of its broadcast.
After receiving an order to leave from his new chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, and eight additional ministers walking out to demand that he accept reality, the prime minister is anticipated to finally resign.
Before ITV moved its coverage to bring viewers the breaking news that Mr. Johnson would address the nation later today, Lorraine Kelly was presenting her daytime show as usual.
When she announced to the audience, “We are going to hand you over to ITV News with all of the breaking news about the imminent resignation of Boris Johnson,” she had just finished interviewing JLS singer Aston Merrygold.
“I’m so sorry, you need to come back,” I said.
Merrygold replied: ‘I do, for sure, but it’s exciting so it’s fine.’
Lorraine continued: ‘So many events are unfolding, it was inevitable. ITV News will take you now.
Speaking after the programme, she took to Twitter to say it was ‘not my decision’.
The show has been followed by This Morning, but Loose Women has been axed from ITV’s schedule today in favour of continued coverage of the Prime Minister.
The show’s Twitter account said: ‘Due to extended ITV News this lunchtime covering Boris Johnson’s resignation, Loose Women won’t be on air today.’
Viewers have reacted with annoyance at missing out on their daily fix of the presenter.
One said: ‘ITV have binned off Lorraine to cover the resignation of the PM. It’s that serious folks.’
Another added: ‘I’m a little bit annoyed that they’ve interrupted Lorraine for this.’
A third said: ‘They took off half of Lorraine Kelly shocking.’
It comes as Mr Johnson has admitted defeat half-an-hour after a shattering intervention from Nadhim Zahawi, who was only appointed on Tuesday night in the wake of Rishi Sunak’s resignation.
According to a source in No. 10, Mr. Johnson has spoken with Sir Graham Brady, the head of the Tory 1922 Committee, and has agreed to step down. A new Tory leader is expected to be in place by the party conference in October.
Mr. Zahawi appeared to have delivered the fatal blow with his public appeal on Mr. Johnson to cave in, even if he refrained from resigning.
He tweeted today: ‘Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country.
‘You must do the right thing and go now.’
Education Secretary Michelle Donelan, who was installed in post at the same time as Mr Zahawi, also declared she is quitting today, barely two hours after Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis stepped down from his role.
Former Cabinet member Julian Smith said that the prime minister was planning to create a “small replica” of the Capitol riots in the UK after observing how Donald Trump responded to them during the US election.
There are even suggestions from allies that Mr Johnson could try to force a snap general election in a desperate bid to cling to office – something that could drag the Queen into a constitutional crisis.
Veteran Tory MP Bernard Jenkin this morning urged Carrie Johnson to step in a convince her husband that he should throw in the towel.
But the PM yesterday rejected pleas from a delegation of loyalists including Priti Patel and new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi for a seemly departure, vowing to fight until the bitter end.