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Lorraine Kelly criticises Tory MP Esther McVey over stance on LGBT+ rights

Lorraine Kelly criticises Tory MP Esther McVey over stance on LGBT+ rights

Piers Morgan’s first question to Lorraine Kelly on Good Morning Britain was for her to address the many reports of a feud between her and Tory leader hopeful Esther McVey, after she appeared to snub the MP over a question about working together over 20 years ago.

The TV host insists there is no feud – but she does “strongly disagree” with McVey’s stance on LGBT+ rights.

On Monday’s segment of the show, which McVey appeared on, Reid asked Kelly if she remembered working with the MP on GMTV,to which she responded with a short “Yep, yes I do” before swiftly moving on to the next part of the show.

The plot thickened when, asked about the exchange during a press conference, McVey said: “We used to share a dressing room, and she used to do the programme afterwards. And obviously she used to be partnered with Eamonn Holmes and then I was promoted to be partnered with Eamonn Holmes.”

“But she’s great and it was a great show,” she went on. “I can’t believe it. I think it was 20 years ago I did that show, but never mind. It was really good at the time. It was really good fun.”

Her point about a “promotion” drew raised eyebrows, and Morgan mentioned the MP’s response to Kelly.

So, what does Kelly think of all this "feud" business?

“I’m baffled. There is no battle. I’m baffled by that [what Esther McVey said about her] because I’ve had my own show in 1992. She didn’t come in until five years later,” she said.

She added that they didn’t really share dressing rooms per se. “It wasn’t really like that (sharing dressing rooms)."

It was a little room everyone shared. It wasn’t a dressing room like couches it wasn’t palatial at all.

After some prodding from Morgan, Kelly also addressed Esther McVey’s political stance on LGBT+ rights, and she isn’t happy.

Yesterday I got sick to the back teeth of the whole toxic political atmosphere. I strongly disagree with her on LGBT rights. I’ve had enough of this.

I’m really disappointed that Ruth Davidson isn’t standing. She’s one of the few human beings in politics right now.

Lorraine's passionate response has caught people's eye - and they're calling on her to be prime minister instead

And others are absolutely here for the not-beef

Some supported her - but not her part about backing Ruth Davidson

McVey sparked backlash last month after saying parents should be free to stop their children learning about LGBT+ relationships in school.

The former work and pensions secretary argued that “parents know best for their children” and claimed it was “down to them” if they wanted to withdraw children from sex and relationship education.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms McVey said: “I believe parents know best for their children. While they’re still children – and we’re talking primary school [age] – then really the parents need to have the final say on what they want their children to know.”

According to TheyWorkForYou, the Tory MP has consistently voted against equal gay rights and against allowing marriage between two people of the same sex. Lorraine Kelly recently came under fire after narrowly avoiding a large tax bill last year after saying that she is a “theatrical artist” playing a friendly TV presenter, also called Lorraine Kelly.

More: Lorraine Kelly gave a brutally honest answer when asked if she remembers working with Esther McVey

More: 11 of the strangest moments from the launch day the Tory leadership contest

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