Nigel Farage Blasts ‘Political’ Ofcom Ruling Against GB News, Blames Establishment ‘Influence’
GB News host Nigel Farage ripped media watchdog Ofcom for its “overtly political” ruling that politician-hosted shows breached impartiality, accusing the regulator of giving in to “pressures” from the establishment media and “segments of the political class.”
Farage was appearing on GB News from the United States early hours Tuesday morning, promoting his interview with Republican 2024 presidential election nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Discussing Trump’s support of the network and his alleged promise of exclusivity to GB News, should he return to the White House.
Farage said: “[Trump] was also, I must tell you, very excited to hear about how GB News is doing. You know, the fastest growing news website in the UK for the last 10 months of the year. And is it any wonder that Ofcom are on our case? Is it any wonder that Sky News have obsessed all day about GB News? We’re doing well. He knows that. And I promise you, those other broadcasters will not get any sit downs with him whatsoever.”
On the mention of Ofcom, the host pivoted to the decision made on Monday. The ruling listed five shows hosted by sitting Tory MPs that violated the broadcasting code after on each occasion the politicians involved acted as “newsreader.” The shows in question were hosted by Tory MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Philip Davies.
Farage, himself honourary president of Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, responded: “Well, I just feel that Ofcom are becoming overtly political. I think that’s because of the pressures that have been put upon them by the established media and indeed by segments of our political class.”
He continued: “GB News is posing a threat to the other broadcasters, a challenge to British politics. And when you’re there and you’re part of a status quo, the one thing you do not want, is a new boy coming along and challenging your position. That’s exactly what we’re doing. And you can see the growth of this channel over the last few months. You can see the increased influence that it’s having. And unsurprisingly, they don’t like it. Ofcom are responding to pressure. But what I do know is that GB News are going to fight like hell.”
On Monday afternoon, following the ruling’s publication, GB News released a statement saying it was “deeply concerned by the decision” which it described as “chilling.” The network accused Ofcom of having “arbitrarily changed the test” for compliance on impartiality.
Ofcom’s ruling, however, has established precedent in the Broadcaster’s Code and even detailed a circumstance in which Rees-Mogg’s reporting on an incident at Buckingham Palace met the “exceptional justification” threshold. The watchdog, firm in its stance, warned the network it would face sanctions for further violations.
