The chairman of Ofcom has said it is not the UK regulator’s job to tell broadcasters who they should employ.
It follows a string of complaints around GB News, which has former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, and husband and wife MPs Philip Davies and Esther McVey as part of its line-up.
GB News recently announced former prime minister Boris Johnson would be joining as a commentator from the New Year.
Other broadcasters, including News UK’s TalkTV and Global’s LBC regularly use politicians as on screen talent.
Asked on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg if he was concerned about increasing polarisation, Michael Grade said: “I have worries about freedom of speech and freedom of expression on the airwaves, that’s what concerns Ofcom.”
Lord Grade added that outlets such as GB News had increased choice among viewers.
“It calls itself GB News but it’s more of a current affairs (channel)… there are political chat shows that go on BBC News, which is a kind of new format.
“We want to see a plurality of choice and freedom of expression on the airwaves.
“We don’t want to be in the business of telling broadcasters, licensees, who they can employ, who they can’t employ.
“There are rules about elections and politicians at election time, there are very strong, clear rules, but that’s not our job.”
An edition of Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil was found to have breached Ofcom rules on due impartiality, while an edition of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation is also under investigation.
Ofcom is currently seeking views on the use of serving politicians as presenters of TV and radio programmes.
