Ofcom is consulting on a change to Rule 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code and accompanying Guidance, which relates to politicians presenting news.
The rules have come under scrutiny after a High Court Judgment rule a programme cannot be considered both a news programme and a current affairs programme at the same time.
The case was brought by GB News who have used a series of politicians as presenters and attracted a string of complaints under the regulator’
Ofcom says the proposed change aims to makes it clear to broadcasters that a politician cannot be used as a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter in any type of programme, unless there is exceptional editorial justification. The current rule states that no politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in ‘any news programmes’.
Politicians would still be able to present programmes under this rule change. But they would not be able to present news – regardless of the nature of the programme, without exceptional editorial justification.
