Esther McVey reportedly blames 'cabal of leftie presenters' for Lorraine Kelly feud

Aspiring Prime Minister Esther McVey reportedly blames dominant force of left-wing presenters in breakfast TV for her rift with Lorraine Kelly.

Tension between the Tory politician and the usually friendly TV presenter emerged this week when Kelly, 59, was asked on live TV about her working relationship with McVey back in GMTV in the 90s.

According to The Sun McVey, 51, blames the number of Kelly’s colleagues who have close links to the Labour party.

A source close to the Conservative MP said: “It was the worst mistake she ever made coming out as a Tory.

“GMTV was like a cabal of lefties.”

Read more: Fiona Phillips accuses Esther McVey of lying over Lorraine Kelly 'clash'

Kelly has admitted that she does not agree with McVey’s views on LGBT rights.

Fiona Phillips – whose spot on the GMTV sofa McVey filled during her maternity leave - is a loyal Labour supporter and was once offered a peerage and a role as health minister by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Gloria De Piero, who worked as political correspondent for GMTV, is now a Labour MP herself.

And former GMTV presenter Kate Garraway is married to former Labour spin doctor Derek Draper.

There was a very awkward moment on Monday’s Good Morning Britain when Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid put Kelly on the spot by asking her about her time working with McVey. Kelly stonily replied: “I honestly don’t remember.”

McVey went on to claim she believed Kelly may have an issue with her as, “I was promoted to be partnering with Eamonn Holmes.”

Phillips then accused McVey of lying, saying: "Esther said that she had been promoted. But that is an absolute lie. She was only on there because she was covering my maternity leave.”

Read more: Lorraine Kelly "baffled" by Esther McVey's Eamonn Holmes claim

Kelly later admitted: "My terse reaction had nothing to do with Esther McVey the TV presenter and everything to do with Miss McVey the politician.

"I abhor her stance on LGBT rights – and like so many of her colleagues from all sides of parliament, she stands an example of everything that is wrong with our toxic political landscape."

McVey has drawn criticism for saying that parents of primary school age children should have the right to withdraw their children from lessons about LGBT awareness.