Naga Munchetty blasted over 'bizarre' comments to Kemi Badenoch on BBC Breakfast

The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Naga Munchetty has been accused of trying to twist Kemi Badenoch ’s words during a heated BBC Breakfast exchange.

The presenter - who is moving to BBC Radio 5 Live next year following a slew of reported bullying accusations - interviewed the Conservative Party leader on the morning show late last week.

During her appearance, Badenoch explained that she would target housing allowance as one of the measures to reduce welfare spending and claimed Prime Minster Andy Burnham is currently prioritising welfare over national security .

“We have people who live in areas that are quite expensive and if people need to get local housing allowance, they will need to move somewhere cheaper," she said.

Munchetty interjected to reference Badenoch’s comments in her recent Daily Mail op-ed, in which she stated: "It means cutting housing allowance because poorer taxpayers shouldn't pay for people on housing benefits to live in areas they could never afford."

The broadcaster, 51, asked: "Am I wrong to interpret that as you saying there should be areas where rich people live and if you're not rich, you should not live in those areas? You shouldn't aspire to live in an area that has better services or better schools?"

Naga Munchetty clashed with Kemi Badenoch BBC Badenoch, 46, hit back: "I think you should aspire to live wherever you want to live, but you shouldn't aspire for the government, i.e. other taxpayers, to pay for you to live wherever you want to live.”

Munchetty asked: “So you don’t want to mix wealthy people and people on benefits in areas?”

"Not at all," Badenoch insisted. "I have young people in my office who have just graduated. They can't afford to live in certain places but they are paying for other people's benefits to live there."

The exchange divided viewers at home on social media, with some accusing Munchetty of being biased.

“Munchetty seems incapable (either intellectually or, more likely, ideologically) of engaging with the substance of the subject and has resorted to putting words into Badenoch’s mouth in an attempt to demonise the policy,” one wrote on X.

“This shows how out of touch BBC’s socialist presenters are - taxpayers should pay for luxury apartments for benefit claimants. Bizarre,” another added.

“Kemi made a simple statement. Those on benefits should live within their means as do the working class tax payers. How the BBC try to turn this into something else is beyond me! How anyone can think they are impartial is beyond me!” a third posted.