GB News: Politicians' shows under scrutiny in new Ofcom investigations

Media regulator Ofcom has launched four new investigations into GB News after complaints that the channel broke impartiality rules.

Three episodes of shows hosted by Conservative MPs are being investigated in relation to a rule that politicians can’t normally act as news presenters.

Programmes hosted by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Philip Davies and Esther McVey are among those being examined.

It takes the number of active Ofcom investigations into GB News to seven.

The UK media watchdog has a rule that prevents politicians from acting as newsreaders, interviewers or reporters in news programmes “unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified”.

However, some news networks have argued their programmes hosted by politicians do not break the rules because they should be classed as current affairs rather than news.

It’s a fine line and, obviously, the programmes provide a nice little earner for Tory MPs and an out for their political views … :roll_eyes: