BAN BACKLASH
Piers Morgan sparks new Ofcom complaints from angry viewers after GMB clash with MP Tobias Elwood over sex ban
PIERS Morgan has sparked new Ofcom complaints from angry viewers after clashing with MP Tobias Elwood on Good Morning Britain over the government's newly-announced sex ban.
Earlier today, the outspoken journalist and his co-star Susanna Reid called the move "a massive state intrusion into people’s private lives."
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Now TV regulator Ofcom have confirmed that just hours after the interview aired, they have received 30 complaints about the interview.
The run-in came one day after the Government rolled out lockdown guidelines that include a clause that completely bans two people from separate households gathering in a private place.
Piers Morgan kicked off the clash by asking Mr Ellwood via videolink: "Why are you banning sex?"
The politician initially refused to comment, telling Piers he was not aware of the story and urged him to move on.
Refusing to take no for an answer, Piers snapped: "I've just read it to you."
Growing increasingly frustrated, Mr Ellwood sniped it was another example of why the Conservative party were boycotting the show.
After being pressed further by the Daily Mail's Andrew Pierce, Mr Ellwood finally admitted that it sounded "ridiculous".
He said: "On the face of it, it does sound ridiculous, but you don't respect the fact that if I've not read into the story..."
Piers shouted: "You've just answered the question that I asked you 10 minutes ago. The reason you didn't want to answer is because you hadn't read the story, which I read to you four times.
"I don't know what more I can do to help you."
The frustrated MP replied: "Piers you want your wow moment."
To which Piers countered: "I would like the programme to be as news-breaking as it can possibly be."
Later in the chat, the pair went toe to toe again after Mr Ellwood quipped it was good to finally speak about something he was meant to when asked about Chinese phone company Huawei.
It irritated Piers, who fumed: "One of the reasons I got so angry with your cabinet ministers was for a lack of preparation. Your fury was another failure of you to prepare."
Mr Ellwood sniped: "You do what you do so well, talk a lot and not allow your guests to reply."
The ill-tempered exchange followed a mini Twitter spat between the pair.
On Sunday, Piers tweeted accusing Conservative MPs of avoiding the show.
He wrote: "We can’t get a single Tory MP to come on @GMB tomorrow to defend their Government."
However, Mr Ellwood responded: "Slightly unfair - I agreed to come on @GMB tomorrow and you denied me! Piers - let’s keep it real."
And they began their chat today by bickering about the Bournemouth East MP's booking.
New lockdown rules introduced in the latest amendment to The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 bill were presented to parliament yesterday.
It detailed the measures which have eased, such as being able to meet up in groups of six for a BBQ and conditions for elite athletes to return to sport.
However, buried in is a new regulation which explicitly bans meeting up with anyone from outside your household in your own home.
Brought in to help support the new rules about friends and family having to meet up outside, the clause puts a categorical legal end to lockdown sex with those from outside your household.
Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid slams government’s ‘intrusive’ ban on sex in new lockdown rules
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Previous regulations did not include the wording about private places as travel restrictions categorically urged people to stay in their homes except for food shopping and exercise.
People caught travelling without a reasonable excuse could be prosecuted, but the wording did not include what happened when you were in another home.
Now both people will technically be able to be prosecuted under the coronavirus regulations as both have committed an offence by having a two person gathering from separate households - in a private place.
Public sex is already illegal for any couples hopeful of a workaround to see their lover.
It comes as the country is beginning to ease out of the lockdown which has dominated daily life since March.
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