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Good Morning Britain viewers were left with one burning question just minutes into the ITV breakfast show as Lord Peter Mandelson prepares to be stripped of his peerage. One of the biggest stories this week has been the latest batch of explosive Epstein files, where several famous faces were named and shamed, unveiled by the Department of Justice on Friday (January 30). Days after the three-million-page document was released, the 72-year-old, who served as US ambassador for seven months, announced he was resigning from the party to avoid causing "further embarrassment".

But the backlash has kept on rolling in for Mandelson, who is now set to be stripped of his peerage "as quickly as possible" by Sir Keir Starmer. On Wednesday (February 4), Susanna Reid and Ed Balls returned to the helm to discuss the bombshell development, but viewers couldn't help but point out an obvious question between the presenting duo.

Just minutes after the breakfast show returned to the airwaves, fans flocked to X - formerly known as Twitter - to share their thoughts online. One user penned: "It's not appropriate for Ed Balls to be hosting @GMB when his wife is compromised as a member of the government #shocking #mandelson."

Another agreed: "@gmb another day when the main story involves the government and interview the foreign secretary, ie Mrs Balls, while husband Ed Balls is the main presenter who used to be Education Secretary. This is not comfortable viewing."

A third echoed: "Ed Balls smiling whilst reporting this terrible situation is totally wrong #notgoot". Meanwhile, others turned their attention to the former politician to share what it was really like to work with Mandelson in the House of Commons back in the late noughties.

One viewer pointed out: "'I was there in that room', Ed providing additional lived experience of exactly what was said by Mandelson". Another agreed: "@GMB Ed Valls sitting in your studio knows all the in's and out's of the Mandelson fiassco. Ask him".

This isn't the first time viewers have called for Ed Balls to be removed from the morning news programme since he joined the show as a guest host back in 2021. Last year, fans demanded Ed Balls to be axed from the show following a "weak" and "biased interview with Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice.

Alongside his co-star Susanna Reid, he discussed claims made by a doctor at Reform's party conference linking the Covid vaccine to King Charles' cancer. While many disagree with the claim, several were also quick to slam Mr Balls' heated approach to the interview.

Reacting to the clash online, many viewers called into question his unconscious "bias" slipping through the cracks. One user penned: "Ed Balls fuming while Richard Tice stayed calm and biased. Meanwhile, Labour's Ed just couldn't hide his bias."

Another agreed: "GMB it's about time you got rid of Ed Balls, he's a biased d***head" as a third echoed: "Ed Balls should not be allowed on #GMB considering his wife is the home secretary [now Foreign Secretary]. The bias is lost every time he interviews anyone from this current Government."