Laurence Fox’s GB News programme, in which deputy presenter Martin Daubney interviewed Reform Party leader Richard Tice on the sensitive issue of small boats, is the latest breach by Ofcom.
The regulator again cited GB News over issues of “sufficient impartiality” after an interview between Daubney and Tice was deemed “not controversial enough” and rejected the “limited alternative views”, the report said.
During the broadcast, right-wing commentator Daubney, who represents Fox, expressed his opinion on immigration and asylum policy in the context of the controversy surrounding small boats crossing the English Channel. He also interviewed Reform Party leader Tice, who was reported to Ofcom by complainants.
“We consider that immigration and asylum policy has been the subject of significant political controversy and an important issue in the context of current public policy,” Ofcom said. “On important matters, all Ofcom licensees must comply with the code’s enhanced specific impartiality requirements.”
As with many ongoing Ofcom investigations into GB News, the network was found to be in breach of rules 5.11 and 5.12 of its code, which aim to balance freedom of expression with reasonable impartiality. However, the watchdog decided not to investigate Conservative Party deputy leader Lee Anderson’s interview with Home Secretary Suella Braverman after the ruling party’s annual conference, saying it was “satisfied that it was a current program is” and that the required impartiality is guaranteed.
Ofcom has a further 12 GB News investigations underway, most of which relate to the level of impartiality required, and the Fox show is the fourth to be axed this year.
Although Fox did not host the show, he is the subject of the most famous of these investigations, namely his interview with Dan Wootton, in which he disparaged a female journalist by saying that no “self-respecting man” would let him into bed don’t climb with her This incident is Ofcom’s most complained about program of the year so far.
GB News sacked Fox earlier this month after his behavior on Wootton’s show and he was arrested soon after on suspicion of conspiring to criminally damage controversial low-emission cameras in London.
Fellow GB News presenter Calvin Robinson also lost his job after showing his support for Wootton, who is off air while the news channel investigates him.
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
