Ofcom Fines GB News £100,000 Over Impartiality Breaches in Sunak Interview

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Ofcom has imposed a £100,000 fine on GB News, citing “serious and repeated” violations of impartiality rules after the channel gave then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak what it described as a “mostly uncontested platform” during a broadcast. The program, which aired on February 12, allowed Sunak an hour-long Q&A with a live audience, with Ofcom concluding that the episode failed to present an “appropriately wide range of significant viewpoints” and did not preserve “due impartiality.”

 

While Ofcom issued the fine, it will defer enforcing payment until the conclusion of a judicial review that GB News has initiated to challenge the regulator’s original ruling. Ofcom is set to defend its decision, asserting the severity of the impartiality breaches as justification for the penalty. Additionally, the regulator has ordered GB News to broadcast a public statement of its findings, the timing and format of which will be at Ofcom’s discretion.

 

GB News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos responded to the fine by calling it a “direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom.” He described the sanction as “unnecessary, unfair and unlawful,” emphasizing that the High Court has allowed GB News to seek judicial review to contest Ofcom’s original ruling. “The plan to sanction GB News flies in the face of Ofcom’s duty to act fairly, lawfully and proportionately to safeguard free speech, particularly political speech and on matters of public interest,” Frangopoulos added.

 

He highlighted the role of The People’s Forum, where Sunak was interviewed, as an essential platform for public engagement, asserting that GB News took steps to maintain impartiality in line with the Broadcasting Code. “It was designed to allow members of the public to put their own questions directly to leading politicians,” he stated, further emphasizing the network’s commitment to operating within regulatory boundaries.

 

Frangopoulos underscored the station’s belief in freedom of expression, arguing that Ofcom has a responsibility to apply its rules fairly. “At the People’s Channel we will continue to fearlessly champion freedom; for our viewers, for our listeners, and for everyone in the United Kingdom,” he said, underscoring what he sees as the network’s unique role in the UK media landscape.

 

The People’s Forum episode, which featured Sunak, was intended to be the first in a series offering public access to political figures, according to GB News. The network indicated that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had been invited to participate in a similar program, though his appearance did not materialize after Ofcom initiated its investigation. Ofcom’s review found that due impartiality requirements were unmet, as an adequate range of perspectives was not presented nor addressed in other programs.

 

As the legal challenge unfolds, the Ofcom ruling and the subsequent response from GB News will likely spark broader discussions about media impartiality, freedom of expression, and the responsibilities of broadcasters under UK law.

 

Based on a report by Press Gazette 2024-11-01