Phillip Schofield accused Minister of State for Social Care Helen Whately of looking “cold” and “heartless” on Thursday’s This Morning, as tensions rose in the ITV studios.
Ahead of the MP’s appearance on the show, Phil and Holly Willoughby spoke with Ylenia Angeli and her daughter Leandra Ashton, whose video of a recent incident in a care home went viral.
Ylenia was arrested when she tried to take her mum, who is 97 and suffering from dementia, out of her retirement home without giving prior warning.
The mother and daughter duo spoke passionately about the need for a change in guidelines in care homes, fearing for the mental health of elderly inhabitants.
Later, Conservative MP Helen Whately appeared on the show to respond to their concerns, outlining the plans to be put in place in care facilities during the second lockdown.
Phillip Schofield accused Minister of State for Social Care Helen Whately of looking “cold” and “heartless” (Image: ITV)
However, things quickly grew fiery between Phil and Helen, as he demanded that she comment on the incident that occurred to Ylenia.
He asked: “Do you agree that that care home was right to call the police?”
When Helen appeared to skirt the issue, he then demanded: “Yes but should the care home have called the police?”
Helen replied: “I actually can’t comment on the individual actions taken by the care home.”
The MP defended herself, admitting she found the situation “heartbreaking” (Image: ITV)
The MP then added: “I really want to see care homes find ways to encourage visiting.”
Phil had enough, later in the discussion, as he urged the Minister to approach her role with more compassion for families up and down the country.
He said: “Wheres the compassion here for a 97-year-old lady who is in her final years?”
Before adding: “You look cold, you look heartless.”
However, Helen was quick to assure viewers she understood their plight, saying she had “sat in tears listening to the stories and talking to people” about their care home heartache.
She added: “I genuinely find it heartbreaking.”
This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
