Lord Sugar has hit out at former friend Piers Morgan, suggesting that the Good Morning Britain host has been stoking up hysteria over the coronavirus pandemic.
The pair have had a public fallout during the outbreak, with Morgan accusing The Apprentice figurehead of "reckless, shameful stupidity" for stating his belief that the public should be allowed to sunbathe in parks.
Morgan has been particularly pugnacious on his breakfast show as the crisis has unfolded, with his interview with care minister Helen Whately last week drawing around 2,000 complaints to TV regulator Ofcom over concerns that he had 'bullied' her.
"Piers is trying to make a name for himself by accusing ministers of being lackadaisical," Sugar told The Sun. "He is absolutely exploiting this pandemic for his own gain. He is trying to become a martyr.
"Whatever the government is trying to do, they are working their hardest. They're not deliberately not getting equipment to the NHS, there is a problem with the supply chain.
"It's totally irresponsible and normal people watching at home get worried. It's terrible reporting, I'm sick and tired of him, he's doing it for his own profile. He's not being professional with numbers and facts."
In reply, Morgan labelled Sugar "a selfish, stupid, privileged billionaire", accusing him of directing "repulsive abuse"over his attempts to hold the government to account.
