Ofcom has said it won’t bow to pressure from people who want it to “shut down” GB News because the broadcasting watchdog is not a censor.
The TV regulator said the right-wing channel can continue to use politicians as presenters of “non-news current affairs programmes” after audience research found that viewers don’t want to ban the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage from fronting shows.
Ofcom faced criticism after concluding that serving MPs such as Lee Anderson can present on GB News as long as they don’t adopt the style and mannerisms of an unbiased newsreader or interviewer.
Today programme presenter Nick Robinson asked Ofcom on X, formerly Twitter: “The leader of the Reform party Richard Tice & its only MP Lee Anderson can present programmes in the run up to the (general election) campaign alongside Jacob Rees-Mogg. Is that your idea of impartiality?”
Robinson also questioned how Reform founder Mr Farage could present an “impartial” programme during the campaign.
However, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, the Ofcom executive responsible for broadcast regulation, told i: “There are some people who won’t be happy unless we shut GB News down tomorrow and that’s not the kind of country we live in. We’re not censors.”
She added: “Nick [Robinson] would be the first one to be cross if Ofcom told him how Today ought to be. We live in a country with editorial freedom and the right for broadcasters to decide how they make programmes. It’s up to them to make them impartial.”
Ofcom has said candidates at the upcoming general election are not allowed to host any programmes during the campaign.
The regulator will rule on whether Mr Farage is defined as a “politician” when it publishes the outcome of an impartiality complaint over his show. The Reform figurehead has yet to confirm if he will stand for parliament at the next election.
If Mr Farage was a Reform spokesman but didn’t stand, Ofcom’s rules suggest he would still be able to present “non-news current affairs programmes” until polling day.
However, Ofcom said it would take any due impartiality breaches during the campaign very seriously.
Ms Squires, a former senior executive at Sky News and editor of ITN’s Channel 5 News, said: “The rules are clear, politicians can’t present news programmes. Beyond that we judge every programme in context once its aired. People don’t like banning things.
“If GB News uses political figures, they have to work really, really hard to make sure they’re impartial. And we will come down on them like a ton of bricks, and very swiftly, during an election period if they are the wrong side of the line.”
She also rejected criticism from Andrew Neil, GB News’s short-lived frontline presenter, who told a parliamentary select committee this week that Ofcom should show some “backbone” and take action against the channel.
“We’ve given GB News eleven breaches so far,” Ms Squires said. “We’ve put them on notice that further breaches of the code will be taken incredibly seriously and possibly lead to sanctions.”
Ofcom was not “scared” to fine GB News, if it is found guilty of repeated breaches, she said.
GB News bosses have been called to a meeting to discuss concerns over compliance with impartiality rules in its live programming, the Ofcom chief said.
Ofcom warned all broadcasters using politicians as presenters that “the highest level of due impartiality applies during election periods” and breaches could result in “statutory sanctions”.
The updated guidance came after the regulator found GB News in breach of broadcasting rules when three Conservative MPs acted as newsreaders across five different episodes of its programmes.
Ofcom’s probe involved shows presented by former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob, as well as minister without portfolio Esther McVey and backbencher Philip Davies, and the channel was warned about potential sanctions if there are further breaches.
Married couple Ms McVey and Mr Davies are no longer part of the GB News line-up.
Ofcom warned it is putting broadcasters “on notice to maintain due impartiality ahead of the general election”.