Five episodes of GB News programmes presented by Tory MPs broke Ofcom rules
Three Tory MPs have been found to have broken Ofcom’s broadcasting rules on due impartiality during programmes on GB News.
The watchdog’s probe involved five episodes of shows presented separately by former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and minister without portfolio Esther McVey, and backbencher Philip Davies.
A further episode of Sir Jacob’s State Of The Nation was not investigated because it did not raise issues under the rules, according to Ofcom.
Married couple Ms McVey and Mr Davies are no longer part of the GB News line-up, and last hosted programmes on the channel last year.
State of the Nation
Ofcom said: “We found that two episodes of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State Of The Nation, two episodes of Friday Morning With Esther And Phil, and one episode of Saturday Morning With Esther And Phil, broadcast during May and June 2023, failed to comply with Rules 5.1 and 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code.”
The media watchdog said that because the politicians “acted as newsreaders, news interviewers or news reporters in sequences which clearly constituted news – including reporting breaking news events – without exceptional justification, news was, therefore, not presented with due impartiality”.
Partial
It went on: “Politicians have an inherently partial role in society and news content presented by them is likely to be viewed by audiences in light of that perceived bias.
“In our view, the use of politicians to present the news risks undermining the integrity and credibility of regulated broadcast news.”
Ofcom also said that it is putting GB News put on notice that any repeated breaches of the same rules “may result in the imposition of a statutory sanction”.
This is the first time they broke these rules, according to the watchdog.
GB News has been contacted for comment.
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It’s quite simple. Sitting MPs should not be allowed to use a platform like GB News to spread their political propaganda like Tory bigot Jacob Rees-Mogg and others have recently.
Only 5?
I find that hard to believe.
What I find hard to believe is that anyone goes to GB news expecting it to be impartial.
Ah, the far right Conservative party favourite TV channel. Losing money hand over fist to the tune on £30+million, even the most dangerous press baron in history (Murdoch) has given in and moved Talk to Youtube. Why does this hole of a station still get funding, that is what we need to know.
Who would have thunked it that the Cons didn’t know the rules that are set for a reason.
What is it with you and GB News!
You say it’s a hole of a station then ok thats your opinion and you are entitled to it.
Others would vehemently disagree with you.
If people don’t like what’s on TV then switch over and furthermore if you don’t like the content of GB News then don’t follow them.
Because it is, in my opinion. And I like to know what the likes of Farage and Mogg are up to. Very important to know what a Trump supporter is doing.
Stings when people point out what it is does it?
When GB news started we heard talks of taking on not only the ‘establishment media’ but also the ‘woke warriors’. Right leaning people became interested. Could this be a channel that finally freshens up the media environment in this country?, they wondered. Fresh faces, those who have not been tainted by the the dreaded ‘Westminster bubble’ appearing maybe? Three years on what has been the result? The emergence of anti establishment titans such as Andrew Neil and Jacob Rees Mogg. The fresh faces of Anne Diamond, Simon Mccoy, Eamonn Holmes and Andrew Pierce to name a few appearing on our… Read more »
On first read, I thought this was a supportive appraisal of Gammon Brain Network but it sunk in on the second read what a beautiful subtle sarcastic take down of Vomitvision it was. Great work. They constantly introduce many presenters as ‘comedians’. Failed ones obviously who have never once raised even a grin from me.