Ofcom has found that GB News was in breach of impartiality rules during a programme presented by the former Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney.
However, another programme, Lee Anderson’s Real World, broadcast on 29 September 2023, and featuring an interview with Home Secretary, Suella Braverman MP, will not now be investigated.
Daubney was standing in for actor turned activist Laurence Fox – himself at the centre of another Ofcom investigation – on 16 June 2023. During the programme Daubney gave his views on the topic of immigration and asylum policy, in the context of controversy over small boats crossing the English Channel. He also interviewed the leader of the Reform Party, Richard Tice.
Ofcom says it recognises the right to freedom of expression and to provide opinionated, challenging debate. However, in doing so, broadcasters must observe the rules set out in the Broadcasting Code.
“The Code is clear that when programmes are dealing with matters of major political controversy and current public policy – including immigration and asylum policy – heightened impartiality requirements apply. Specifically, rules 5.11 and 5.12 require that an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight in such programmes, or in clearly linked and timely programmes,” Ofcom said in a statement.
The regulator concluded that as part of an in-depth discussion about immigration and asylum policy – a matter of major political controversy and current public policy –GB News should have taken additional steps to ensure that due impartiality was preserved.
An investigation found Mr Tice presented his views on immigration and asylum policy with insufficient challenge, and the limited alternative views presented in the programme were dismissed.
GB News has accepted that the content was not compliant with the heightened special impartiality requirements in the Code.
We expect GB News to take careful account of this decision in its compliance of future programming.
In Lee Anderson’s Real World, the presenter and Conservative Party Deputy Chairman, Lee Anderson MP interviewed Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and led a subsequent panel discussion on the issues raised.
Politicians are allowed to present current affairs programmes under our rules, providing they aren’t standing for election and that due impartiality is preserved. Having assessed the nature and format of the programme – which included the combination of a pre-recorded interview, in-depth studio analysis and panel discussion – Ofcom said it was satisfied it was a current affairs programme. At the time of broadcast, neither Lee Anderson or Suella Braverman was standing in an election taking place, or about to take place.
The programme featured an appropriately wide range of significant views on the matter of immigration and border control, which were given due weight.
Ofcom has another 12 investigations into GB News that are currently open.
