ITV GMB bias row erupts as Reform UK chairman slaps away ‘far-right’ remark during fiery Caerphilly defeat clash: ‘Sick of the MSM!’

Plaid Cymru secured 47 percent of the vote in a record turnout, while Reform UK came in second at 36 percent. Labour ended the night in a distant third place.

Lindsay Whittle was the minister elected to take the seat, while Reform UK candidate Llyr Powell remained optimistic about the party’s future in Wales despite his defeat.

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As he joined GMB on Friday to discuss the results, Dr Bull admitted the outcome was “in many ways disappointing”, but he too remained upbeat about Reform UK’s popularity.

“You have to also remember this is a tremendous result for us — and that is not political spin. Look, we’re four years old as a party; I’ve been there since the very beginning. We were polling at 1.7 percent four years ago, and to go to 36 percent is a meteoric rise by any kind of metric,” he began.

“Now, you’ve got to remember this is a Labour heartland, so for us to do well there would be very difficult. We obviously did that, but Labour pretty much wiped out, going down to 11 percent, the Tories wiped off the board completely at two percent, which is an abject humiliation of their game on the ground.

“But actually, there is something else that went on at the same time. We saw tactical voting. There was a massive MRP poll — that’s a big poll — that showed us in the lead, as you know, at 42 percent. We saw Plaid was there at 38, and I think what happened — we know from talking to people — is that people who voted Lib Dem, for example, lent their votes to Plaid to get them over the line.

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“I think, however, what this does show is that two-party politics is now dead. This was a two-horse race between Plaid and us. I am thrilled by that result because it isn’t the result that we wanted, but actually, when you look at that in the cold light of day, we’ve done tremendously well.”

Dr Bull paid tribute to Mr Powell, branding him an “amazing candidate” as he went on: “People are sick and tired of what is going on, the abject humiliation of Wales. When you look at the health service, for example, the health metrics are all over the place, the care in Wales is appalling, and this absolute nonsense over immigration — saying that we welcome everyone — it’s basically an open border system to Wales.

“That’s not what I heard on the doorstep, that’s not what people want at all. The economy is in freefall, and we’ve got 20 percent of young Welsh people not in education, employment, or training. That is a terrible state of affairs for a great country.”

Ms Garraway then cut in to ask: “Why wasn’t Nigel Farage at the count last night? Did he fear the night was lost because he was there very late in the day? He doesn’t like to associate with defeat, does he?”

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Dr Bull quickly dismissed the nature of the question: “Well, Kate, I don’t run Nigel’s diary — I don’t know, is the honest answer.

“I was actually in Liverpool, and actually, that’s the other point that I want to make, which is we are seeing Labour being humiliated across the board. Two days ago, when I was in Liverpool — they used to poll, in 2017, they got 84 percent.

“That has dropped by half. They’re now polling at 43 percent. By the time Keir Starmer came in, he’s managed to wipe off 20 percent of the Labour vote in Liverpool — another tribally Labour area. Nigel, like me and the rest of the senior team, will be disappointed by that, but actually, for our supporters, for our members — I’m going around the country on my Chairman’s tour.

“I’ve seen 5,000 people over the last four months; people are really optimistic, enthusiastic. If you look at our party conference, it was the only one with joy and energy and optimism, and we’re looking ahead to the future. The other party conferences looked like a wet weekend.”

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Following the discussion about Caerphilly, Mr Rinder then decided to grill Dr Bull on the perception of Reform UK as a whole.

“The worries about Reform — it’s actually an opportunity for you to address it,” Mr Rinder began. “Neville Watson, who was the party’s only Black branch chair, quit, saying that he was worried, to say the least, about Reform’s tone on migration, saying it’s doing more harm than good.

“There is a suspicion amongst a number of members — Neville Watson among them — that your party is sympathetic to people who are on the far or extreme right. Certainly, for example, sympathetic to Tommy Robinson. What’s your view?”

“Absolutely ridiculous,” Dr Bull protested, before Mr Rinder repeated: “What is your view on Tommy Robinson?”

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Dr Bull answered: “Rob, you are reading the wrong editorials. Tommy Robinson is not welcome in our party. The fact is that we’re not far-right — we’re right of centre.

“And immigration, on the doorstep, is the number one issue — illegal immigration and legal immigration. So let’s just look at that, shall we?

“This year, we’ve had more illegal migrants coming to this country than in the entirety of last year, despite the Prime Minister saying he was going to smash the gangs. People are absolutely apoplectic over what is going on. And this is about fairness in this country.”

“But why has he stepped back then? Why has he stepped back from the party?” Ms Garraway interrupted, referring to Mr Watson.

“I don’t know. I don’t know him. I don’t know his personal circumstances,” Dr Bull replied, prompting another interruption from Mr Rinder. “You appointed him and vetted him, didn’t you? You appointed him and vetted him — he’s in your party. What do you mean you don’t know him? You’re the chairman of the party,” the GMB host questioned.

Dr Bull stood firm: “I’ve got 262,000 members and supporters, and so I can’t possibly know every single person in the party.

“Look, we’ve got a very diverse group of people who are standing for us in the elections that are coming up — both mayoral, also in local elections as well. And I’m proud of the record of this party.

“And actually, I think what this shows is that the other parties are running scared of the amazing progress that we are making across the country. We’re putting up 28 percent in Wales, 22 percent in Scotland, 36 percent in the United Kingdom generally. That would translate — wait for this — into 445 seats in Westminster.”

‘We are not far right, we are right of centre’, says Reform Party Chairman Dr David Bull.@robbierinder and @kategarraway question the Reform Party Chairman on the party. pic.twitter.com/WJBgFLSfrN

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 24, 2025

Following the debate with Dr Bull, clips of the discussion soon spread far and wide across social media, and it’s safe to say many were less than impressed with the line of questioning and manner in which the interview was conducted.

“Was that an interview or two people asking two different questions to try and belittle the interviewer… they didn’t let him answer the questions?” one X user questioned.

“Usual c**p trap from Kate & Rob,” a second argued before a third hit out: “Jesus Christ Kate, stick to celebrity shows and give up on interviews, especially when talking to a Reform member.”

Elsewhere, a fourth pointed out: “Interesting to see the chummy chummy chat with Plaid leader, then basically a shouting match with the Reform Chairman!”

And a fifth echoed: “Garraway’s disdain for Reform or any other party other than Liebour, is so transparent it becomes cringey, which she normally is anyway. If you can’t interview politicians fairly and without prejudice, you’re in the wrong job.”

Another complained: “I’m sick of MSM like this shower calling Reform far-right and I’m glad @drdavidbull put Rinder back in his cage. Whoever wrote Rinder’s notes needs firing. Tommy Robinson has nothing connected to @reformparty_uk and rightly so. Stupid comment from Rinder.”

“Always vile to @reformparty_uk but go lightly on all other parties,” a seventh claimed before another slammed: “Poor @RobbieRinder destroyed twice, seems his notes or research scripts are unfounded nonsense ….. I was p***ing myself. Well done @drdavidbull.”

However, there were some ITV viewers who felt Ms Garraway and Mr Rinder were right to challenge Dr Bull during their heated exchange.

“Kate and Rob did exactly the right thing. Apparently, some people just want to listen to empty promises with no responsibility???” one viewer argued in response to the fury.

And a second welcomed the pair’s line of questioning, typing: “At last some scrutiny of @reformparty_uk!” (sic)