OFCOM has warned broadcasters using politicians as presenters that “the highest level of due impartiality applies during election periods” and breaches could result in “statutory sanctions”.
The regulator’s updated guidance comes after it 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 Rees-Mogg, 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.
On BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, the chief executive of Ofcom Melanie Dawes said GB News had been found in breach of the broadcasting code 11 times in the last year and the channel has been warned "fines are on the table".
READ MORE: SNP MSPs raise 'accuracy' concerns in meeting with BBC's Tim Davie
However, Andrew Neil - who was the first chairman of the channel - has said the media regulator needs to "grow a backbone and quick" on the issue of politicians acting as presenters, stressing he had been surprised by the level of tolerance.
Dawes told the BBC there is "no question of Ofcom having a backbone" and GB News needed to improve its record.
Married couple McVey and 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”.
A statement said: “Broadcasters are reminded that Rule 6.6 of the Code prohibits candidates in UK elections from acting as news presenters, interviewers or presenters of any type of programme during the election period.”
Under current rules politicians are allowed to present current affairs show but not act as newsreaders, and the rules are tightened in the run-up to an election.
Ofcom said: “With a general election due to take place before 25 January 2025, we are sounding a warning to broadcasters to maintain the highest level of due impartiality, in line with our enhanced rules that apply during election periods.
“Any breaches of election programming rules are likely to be serious and to result in Ofcom considering the imposition of statutory sanctions.”
New audience research by the regulator found that while there are “concerns” about politicians presenting current affairs programmes, there is “no clear consensus for an outright ban”.
Updated guidance reinforces the prohibition on politicians presenting news and “reminds broadcasters that, because politicians have an inherently partial role in society, news content presented by them is likely to be viewed by audiences in light of that perceived bias, which would risk undermining the integrity and credibility of broadcast news”.
READ MORE: Weapons investments 'ethical' under new criteria, Rishi Sunak says
The guidance does state that broadcasters “retain editorial freedom to create programmes which move between news and current affairs content” but cautions that is a politician is a the host of a programme “they must ensure they do not act as a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter at any point in that programme”.
On Tuesday Neil told peers: “It may be because the rest of the broadcast universe is on the centre, centre-left so it gave GB News a bit more leeway to settle down.
“I am surprised that any regulator would allow politicians sitting in the Houses of Parliament to present political TV programmes.
“If I had stayed as chairman it would not have happened because I would not have had any politician present a TV show in the first place, and I would certainly never have allowed politicians to interview politicians from the same party.
“I just find that incredible and I think on these areas Ofcom needs to find a backbone and quick.”
When pressed on whether Ofcom had been strong enough on GB News, Dawes told Radio 4: "There’s been a lot of debate about this issue of politicians in the past year and we thought, to be honest, it was time viewers and listeners had their say on this.
"We’ve done 29 in-depth focus groups up and down the country, a whole range of views represented, and actually people fundamentally support having robust rules on impartiality and many are quite uncomfortable about polticians presenting current affairs, but people wouldn’t ban it for the most part because they do recognise the importance of freedom of expression.
"That’s the balance Ofcom is always striking.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel