Ofcom has found that a GB News show presented by two Tory MPs breached its impartiality rules. However, the regulator only scalded the far-right media outlet over it not airing differing views. Ofcom failed to rule against the fact that two sitting Conservative MPs were posing as journalists interviewing a sitting Conservative minister.
The problem here isn’t the fact GB News is a screeching, far-right foghorn amplifier. At the Canary we’ve never claimed to be impartial. They and we are private entities, and that’s our right in the UK. However, while GB News can present its programming with whatever ideological stand point it wishes, it should not be allowing sitting politicians to do it.
The UK’s democracy is already a shambolic farce, which has become increasingly worse in recent years. Allowing sitting MPs to present news programmes is the thin end of the wedge. Ofcom, with all the might of a drain fly, is failing to act quickly enough to stop this practice before even more damage is done.
More concerning is that by Ofcom failing to show its teeth, it sends a clear message that regulations can be, and are to be ignored.