Therese Coffey left her interview on Good Morning Britain today after a row with Piers Morgan.

The Work and Pensions Secretary told the presenter that his comments were ‘insulting’ and then switched off her camera saying that she had to go to another media appointment.

Mr Morgan had asked her why we ‘currently have the worst death rate in the world, and one of the highest death tolls’.

Ms Coffey said that some of the reason was ‘the age of our population… and the obesity of our population’.

Mr Morgan said: ‘Are you saying that the reason for us having the worst death rate in the world is because of the public? That they’re too old and too fat?’

The minister responded: ‘I think that’s a very insulting thing that you’ve just said.

‘I’m conscious that there’s a variety of factors which will have led to people sadly being ill during that time and sadly that translating into deaths.

‘I’m conscious that this is a very serious impact, that our own prime minister was in hospital in intensive care himself last April.’

Mr Morgan asked her what she had found insulting, as she was the one who raised people being high risk as they were elderly and overweight.

She then said: ‘Piers, I also need to point out that you started this interview late. unfortunately I have to go to other broadcasters as well, and I wish we had more time.’

Mr Morgan said she had boycotted the programme for eight months so had had plenty of time to speak to the programme in the past.

Before turning off her camera, she said: ‘You’ve already had 20 minutes of my time. I appreciate your time as well. Thank you, bye bye.’

Mr Morgan responded: ‘Wow, okay.’

He later tweeted: ‘Just extraordinary arrogance.’

But Ms Coffey responded: ‘As broadcasters/@GMB know, I was due to speak to several programmes this morning about Kickstart #PlanforJobs.

‘I was ready to be on air at 815 as pre-agreed with producer; when start time was delayed by GMB, I reminded producer I had to leave before 830 (to do the @bbcrtoday).’

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