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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Piers Morgan says he's banned from government daily briefings after fierce MP clashes

Piers Morgan has claimed he has been banned from daily government briefings and press conferences.

The Good Morning Britain host has clashed fiercely with a number of MPs on the show during the coronavirus pandemic, over things including testing and social distancing rules.

Piers has been holding government ministers to account over apparent mistakes and miscalls of judgment regarding the handling of COVID-19 in the UK.

From the failure to protect those in care homes to testing targets not being met, Piers faced division from GMB viewers over his interviews with MPs recently.

Last month, he claimed ministers were boycotting the show as a result, with many refusing to appear despite doing other press.

Piers Morgan has been banned from government briefings (ITV)

Now, Piers has admitted he can't even ask the ministers the questions he wants answered because he does not have access to the press conferences.

Speaking on the show on Tuesday, he claimed he had been banned from the daily briefings with prime minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock often leading them.

He told co-host Susanna Reid all about it, as Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood appeared during a debate about the ongoing situation.

Tobias Ellwood asked Piers about the briefings (ITV)

Tobias had made a comment about seeing him at the 5pm briefings some day, leading to him revealing all.

He said: "You know what? I would absolutely love to be there but I'm not allowed to do that.

"Your government preaches about freedom of speech, and then spends all its time suppressing it.

Piers claimed he wasn't allowed to attend the daily conferences (PA)

"It's why no government minister will come on this programme or Channel 4 news or Newsnight, or any other shows where they may get difficult questions, they've all been banned."

He added: "It's why no one like me is allowed to go to briefings, and ask difficult questions, because the government doesn't want to be asked difficult questions and shame on them."

Tobias asked him to contact ITV's Robert Peston to see if he could get him a spot.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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