GB News Show Hosted By Politicians Found In Breach By Ofcom Over Impartiality Concerns
deadline.comOfcom has found GB News to be in breach of due impartiality rules in a landmark ruling pertaining to an episode of Esther McVey and Phillip Davies’ show.
The regulator’s investigation concluded that an episode of Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil, which aired on GB News on March 11, failed to “represent and give due weight to an appropriately wide range of significant views on a matter of major political controversy and current public policy.” The right-leaning news network therefore breached rules 5.11 and 5.12 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code on impartiality, following 45 complaints.
This is the third time GB News has breached Ofcom’s rules but the first regarding the controversial move to have politicians present topical shows and interview other politicians.
There are six more investigations of this ilk currently open. In the show found in breach, McVey and Davies, members of the ruling Conservative Party, interviewed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt about the upcoming Spring Budget. “This programme was presented by two sitting MPs from one political party,” Ofcom said. “It featured them interviewing the Chancellor of the same political party about a matter of major political controversy and current public policy.
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