Ofcom Moves to Close Legal Loophole Allowing Politicians to Present News
The UK's media regulator, Ofcom, is reviewing rules on political neutrality in broadcasting after dropping multiple investigations involving politicians as news presenters.
Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, is taking steps to address a legal loophole that has permitted politicians to present news segments on certain broadcasters, notably GB News.
The regulator has recently retracted 11 investigations related to incidents where politicians were perceived to breach impartiality rules by reading news items.
Most of these cases involved GB News, with some also related to other platforms such as TalkTV and LBC.
Ofcom’s decision to drop these cases follows a legal victory for GB News, which challenged two rulings from the regulator concerning Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former Conservative cabinet minister.
The High Court ruled that Rees-Mogg did not violate broadcasting regulations as he was hosting a “current affairs” show, rather than a news programme.
In light of this ruling, Ofcom announced that it would conduct a swift review of its regulations to ensure consistent application of impartiality rules across all types of programming.
The regulator stated its intention to consult on proposed changes to restrict politicians from presenting news content altogether.
This consultation is expected to be published later this spring.
The investigations that have been abandoned include an inquiry regarding Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, on GB News, as well as five separate inquiries concerning shows featuring various politicians on TalkTV and LBC.
These include former Conservative minister Jake Berry, former MEP Alex Phillips, and Labour’s David Lammy.
Ofcom had previously retracted three decisions against GB News based on the High Court's findings, affecting programming presented by other political figures such as Conservative MP Esther McVey and former Tory MP Philip Davies.
Under existing broadcasting regulations, news content is required to be presented “with due impartiality,” and politicians are generally prohibited from acting as newsreaders unless there is an editorial justification.
In addition to the review, Ofcom has initiated an investigation into a particular incident on GB News's program Headliners, where presenter Josh Howie made controversial remarks linking LGBTQ+ inclusion at a church with pedophilia.
Howie defended the remarks as part of a comedy segment that involves reviewing the day's newspaper headlines.
Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of GB News, characterized Ofcom's decision to retract several investigations as a vindication of the channel’s editorial choices.
He criticized what he described as coordinated campaigns from “far-left pressure groups” aimed at suppressing free speech.
Frangopoulos emphasized GB News's commitment to defending its presenters’ rights to free expression amid accusations of homophobia from these groups.
The regulator has recently retracted 11 investigations related to incidents where politicians were perceived to breach impartiality rules by reading news items.
Most of these cases involved GB News, with some also related to other platforms such as TalkTV and LBC.
Ofcom’s decision to drop these cases follows a legal victory for GB News, which challenged two rulings from the regulator concerning Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former Conservative cabinet minister.
The High Court ruled that Rees-Mogg did not violate broadcasting regulations as he was hosting a “current affairs” show, rather than a news programme.
In light of this ruling, Ofcom announced that it would conduct a swift review of its regulations to ensure consistent application of impartiality rules across all types of programming.
The regulator stated its intention to consult on proposed changes to restrict politicians from presenting news content altogether.
This consultation is expected to be published later this spring.
The investigations that have been abandoned include an inquiry regarding Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, on GB News, as well as five separate inquiries concerning shows featuring various politicians on TalkTV and LBC.
These include former Conservative minister Jake Berry, former MEP Alex Phillips, and Labour’s David Lammy.
Ofcom had previously retracted three decisions against GB News based on the High Court's findings, affecting programming presented by other political figures such as Conservative MP Esther McVey and former Tory MP Philip Davies.
Under existing broadcasting regulations, news content is required to be presented “with due impartiality,” and politicians are generally prohibited from acting as newsreaders unless there is an editorial justification.
In addition to the review, Ofcom has initiated an investigation into a particular incident on GB News's program Headliners, where presenter Josh Howie made controversial remarks linking LGBTQ+ inclusion at a church with pedophilia.
Howie defended the remarks as part of a comedy segment that involves reviewing the day's newspaper headlines.
Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of GB News, characterized Ofcom's decision to retract several investigations as a vindication of the channel’s editorial choices.
He criticized what he described as coordinated campaigns from “far-left pressure groups” aimed at suppressing free speech.
Frangopoulos emphasized GB News's commitment to defending its presenters’ rights to free expression amid accusations of homophobia from these groups.
