Rishi Sunak: Ofcom launches investigation into PM's appearance on GB News

[Social Media]

 

Ofcom, the UK's communications and broadcast regulator, has initiated an investigation into Rishi Sunak's recent appearance on GB News, probing whether the program breached impartiality rules. The inquiry was prompted by complaints alleging the absence of alternative viewpoints during the segment.

 

During the broadcast, Sunak, the Prime Minister, fielded questions from an audience on various topics. Presenter Stephen Dixon emphasized that the questions came from undecided voters and had not been previewed by Sunak or GB News.

 

Ofcom received approximately 500 complaints about the program, prompting the investigation under Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code. These rules mandate additional due impartiality requirements for programs discussing matters of significant political controversy and current public policy.

 

Rule 5.11 and 5.12 stipulate that programs must incorporate a wide range of significant views and give them due weight, ensuring audiences are exposed to alternative perspectives. While the requirement for due impartiality doesn't mandate equal time for opposing views, it necessitates exposure to diverse viewpoints.

 

GB News is under scrutiny by Ofcom for various other programs, many of which are being investigated for impartiality issues. In a previous incident in September, the channel was found to have breached impartiality rules during an interview with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Ofcom concluded that the program disproportionately represented viewpoints within the Conservative Party, failing to adequately present a broad spectrum of opinions on a matter of major political controversy.

 

The trend of political figures hosting topical programs is raising concerns, with MPs like Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson, and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries hosting shows on GB News. Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also hosts a program on LBC, underscoring the growing intersection between politics and media.

 

20.02.24

Source

 

[herfiehandbag]

There is an election coming.

 

GB News must be silenced.

 

How dare they challenge the media concensus.

 

Ofcom, do what you have to do.

[scottiejohn]

The OP heading/title; "Rishi Sunak: Ofcom launches investigation into PM's appearance on GB News"

is very misleading!

It is GB News who are being investigated, not Rishi Sunak who, as the OP states,  "the questions came from undecided voters and had not been previewed by Sunak or GB News"!

[JonnyF]

I suggest they take a look at the BBC's Question Time first. 

 

Audiences and panels stacked with left wing bias. Not to mention the presenters.  

[RayC]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

I suggest they take a look at the BBC's Question Time first. 

 

Audiences and panels stacked with left wing bias. Not to mention the presenters.  

 

Only one person showing their bias.

 

Anyone is free to apply to be a member of the QT audience. Audience members are selected based on age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, disability status, voting intention, voting history, and party membership in order to get a political balance.

 

They do sometimes 'fail' (deliberately) to achieve a balance. For example, last year an audience consisted solely of people who had all voted Brexit.

 

Wrt the panels. The link lists the individuals who have sat on the panels by episode. I looked at this year's panels. Unsurprisingly, there is no left-wing bias as you suggest: 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Question_Time_episodes#2024

 

[JonnyF]

17 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Only one person showing their bias.

 

Anyone is free to apply to be a member of the QT audience. Audience members are selected based on age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, disability status, voting intention, voting history, and party membership in order to get a political balance.

 

They do sometimes 'fail' (deliberately) to achieve a balance. For example, last year an audience consisted solely of people who had all voted Brexit.

 

Wrt the panels. The link lists the individuals who have sat on the panels by episode. I looked at this year's panels. Unsurprisingly, there is no left-wing bias as you suggest: 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Question_Time_episodes#2024

 

 

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1384098/bbc-news-bbc-question-time-richard-sharp-bbc-chair-appointment-bbc-bias

 

 

 

[youreavinalaff]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I suggest they take a look at the BBC's Question Time first. 

 

Audiences and panels stacked with left wing bias. Not to mention the presenters.  

Not to mention breakfast TV, is Ed Balls biased?, Adil, Naga and Jeremy Vine?

[RayC]

12 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1384098/bbc-news-bbc-question-time-richard-sharp-bbc-chair-appointment-bbc-bias

 

 

 

 

That'll be the personal opinion - no supporting evidence - of the same Richard Sharp who was forced to resign from the BbC in disgrace, has been a Tory party donor and who voted Brexit. 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/apr/28/who-is-richard-sharp-why-quitting-bbc-boris-johnson

[RayC]

11 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Not to mention breakfast TV, is Ed Balls biased?, Adil, Naga and Jeremy Vine?

 

What are you suggesting? Every BBC programme should be politically 'balanced'? 

 

What about right-wing bias? Wasn't so long ago that the two most powerful political voices at the BBC were Nick Robinson and Andrew Neil.

 

Btw: Ed Balls is (mainly) on the other channel.

[youreavinalaff]

2 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

What are you suggesting? Every BBC programme should be politically 'balanced'? 

 

What about right-wing bias? Wasn't so long ago that the two most powerful political voices at the BBC were Nick Robinson and Andrew Neil.

 

Btw: Ed Balls is (mainly) on the other channel.

I wasn't being channel specific, Jeremy Vine is on Channel5. I was commenting on TV as a whole.

 

No, I'm not suggesting all TV should be politically balanced. Just suggesting news articles suggesting bias should be balanced.