Krishnan Guru-Murthy apologises for insulting Steve Baker off-camera

A Channel 4 News anchor has issued a grovelling apology after he was filmed referring to Tory minister Steve Baker as a ‘c**t’.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy had a ‘robust’ interview with the Minister for Northern Ireland on Wednesday about Suella Braverman‘s decision to step down as Home Secretary.

After the interview, the live feed switched to Prime Minister Liz Truss‘s Downing Street home. Guru-Murthy believed he was no longer on air, but his comments were picked up by other livestream broadcasts nearby.

In the footage, the presenter said: ‘It wasn’t a stupid question, Steve, you know it. I’m very happy to go up against you on [PM Liz] Truss any day. What a c**t.’

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Krishnan Guru-Murthy (pictured) conducted a ‘robust’ interview with the Minister for Northern Ireland on Wednesday about Suella Braverman’s decision to step down as Home Secretary

The audio has since sparked a social media frenzy. 

Mr Baker told Times Radio it was an ‘unfortunate’ mishap, adding: ‘If it’s in breach of his code of conduct I hope they sack him.’ 

Last night Guru-Murthy issued an unreserved apology for the blunder. 

‘After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air,’ he said.

‘While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly. I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry.’

Mr Baker replied: ‘I appreciate you apologising. Thank you.’

After the interview, the live feed switched to Prime Minister Liz Truss’s home, and Guru-Murthy believed he was no longer on air, but his comments about Mr Baker (pictured) were picked up by other livestream broadcasts nearby

The pair went head-to-head after Ms Braverman was forced to step down over sending a sensitive document from her personal email. 

The MP backed Ms Braverman in the interview, saying she showed ‘great integrity’ by acknowledging her mistake and tendering her resignation.

Mr Baker said had it not been for the mistake, he had no doubt Ms Braverman would have continued on in her role – which Guru-Murthy disputed.

The anchor noted Ms Braverman took ‘clear potshots’ at the PM in her resignation letter.

She said when people made ‘mistakes’ – something Ms Truss has admitted – the right thing to do was quit. 

‘This government is looking like a joke,’ Guru-Murthy said. ‘This is another example of incompetence by this government, isn’t it?’

On Wednesday night Guru-Murthy issued an unreserved apology over the blunder. ‘After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air,’ he said. ‘While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly. I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry’

But Mr Baker said ‘tensions are bound to emerge at times of resignation’ and he hoped Ms Truss will be able to ‘reappoint Suella in the new year’. 

There is believed to have been a bust-up between Ms Braverman and Ms Truss – who were rivals in the Tory leadership contest – over immigration and visa policy last night.

She was under pressure to sign off a plan to liberalise migration rules to help boost the economy, as part of Ms Truss’s drive for growth. 

The former minister appears to have sent an email with details of the proposed policy to a parliamentary staffer. There was speculation she could have been trying to sabotage it.

One Tory MP close to Ms Braverman told MailOnline of the security breach: ‘It’s the kind of thing that you give a wrap on the knuckles and carry on – unless you want to get rid of someone.’

The MP said Ms Braverman ‘wasn’t happy over their stance on immigration’ and warned more resignations could be imminent. 

They added: ‘I get the impression we’re going to get an avalanche.’

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Suella Braverman (left) dramatically quit as Home Secretary on Wednesday as Liz Truss’s (right) crisis deepened