Therese Coffey, the Tory Work and Pensions Minister, dramatically terminated an interview with Piers Morgan this morning after suggesting our death rate was the highest in the world because of the age and obesity of our population.  During the aborted interview, Piers Moran pointed out to the minister that recent Oxford University research showed that the UK currently has the highest daily coronavirus death rate in the world.  During the exchanges by video link, Ms Coffey suggested that this was because of Britain’s ageing population and the level of obesity

Therese Coffey said, ‘There will be a variety of reasons why people, unfortunately, have died. Some of that will be recognising the age of our population, some of that will be recognising the obesity of our population.’

Piers replied, ‘Are you saying that the reason for us having the worst death rate in the world is because of the public? We’re too old and we’re too fat? None of your colleagues gave us any. You have given us two now – an ageing population and obesity.’

Ms Coffey responded, ‘I think that’s a very insulting thing you have just said, Piers.’

Piers hit back, ‘You just said it!’

Shortly after Ms Coffey said, ‘I wish we had more time, but we were meant to start at 8:15. Piers I’m sorry, I’m going to have to go. You’ve already had twenty minutes of my time, I appreciate your time as well. Thank you, goodbye.’ She then disappeared, switching off her camera saying that she had to go to another media appointment.

GMB later tweeted, ‘Therese Coffey accused Piers Morgan of being insulting for repeating her words that the UK’s worst global death rate is due to the age and obesity of the population.’

Piers Morgan later tweeted, ‘Just extraordinary arrogance.’