GB News has been fined £100,000 by Ofcom for repeated breaches of impartiality rules. The regulator stated that the penalty was due to the “seriousness and repeated” nature of the breaches.
The issue with The People’s Forum
The fine relates to an episode of The People’s Forum: The Prime Minister, a live Q&A session with Rishi Sunak, aired on 12 February. This broadcast took place five months before the general election. Ofcom found that the programme failed to present a balanced range of viewpoints, which violated impartiality rules.
According to Ofcom, the programme did not provide a “wide range of significant viewpoints” or ensure due impartiality through related and timely broadcasts.
GB News responds to the fine
GB News is required to air a statement outlining Ofcom’s findings, with the timing and format to be decided by the regulator. Angelos Frangopoulos, chief executive of GB News, described the sanction as “a direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom.”
Frangopoulos argued that the sanctions are “unnecessary, unfair, and unlawful.” He noted that the High Court has granted GB News permission to seek a judicial review of Ofcom’s decision. “The plan to sanction GB News flies in the face of Ofcom’s duty to act fairly, lawfully, and proportionately to safeguard free speech, especially political speech,” he added.
Commitment to free speech
Frangopoulos defended the programme, saying, “We have always believed that The People’s Forum was an important piece of public interest programming. Appropriate steps were taken to ensure impartiality and compliance with the Broadcasting Code. The show was designed to allow the public to question leading politicians directly.”
He emphasised GB News’s commitment to being regulated and understanding its obligations under the Code. However, he also stressed that Ofcom has a legal duty to uphold freedom of expression and apply rules fairly.
“At GB News, we will continue to champion freedom for our viewers, listeners, and everyone in the UK. This is needed now more than ever,” Frangopoulos said.
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