An episode of The Live Desk on GB News has been found to have broken due impartiality rules after it promoted a GB News branded campaign, “Don’t Kill Cash”.
The edition, broadcast on 7 July 2023, is one of six investigations opened by the regulator Ofcom into the campaign. It calls on viewers to sign a petition for Government to introduce legislation to protect the status of cash as legal tender and as a widely accepted means of payment in the UK until at least 2050.
In line with the right to freedom of expression, broadcasters are free to explore any issue, including the use of cash in society, in their programmes, and to encourage viewers to support particular campaigns. However, in doing so, they must comply with the due impartiality requirements in Section Five of the Broadcasting Code.
Rule 5.4 requires that all broadcasters’ programmes – whatever their genre – exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service on matters of political or industrial controversy or current public policy.
The rules are designed to safeguard against licensed broadcasters using their channels and stations to advance their own views on matters of political controversy or current public policy.
Ofcom says “the stated aim of GB News’s campaign and petition was to call for legislative change, representing an attempt to influence Government policy.”
Factors taken into account include a QR code and messaging shown on-screen encouraged viewers to sign a GB News petition calling for legislative change; and the campaign was promoted across GB News programming.
Ofcom says it expects GB News to take careful account of this decision in its future programming.
