Ofcom Investigate Shadow Secretary David Lammy For Alleged Impartiality Breach During LBC Show

Media watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into whether Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy breached impartiality rules during his LBC radio show on Good Friday.

Ofcom said it was examining whether the senior Labour politician “broke our rules on politicians acting as news presenters” after it received 51 complaints about the show on March 29.

During the broadcast on March 29, Lammy interrupted his show to break news of Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson’s suspension, following charges based on historic sexual allegations which he denies. Lammy also told listeners that Donaldson had been replaced by MP Gavin Robinson, who will serve as the party’s interim leader.

A similar investigation concluded in March against Tory politicians who present at GB News found five shows in which politicians violated the broadcasting code. The broadcasting code states: “a politician cannot be a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter unless, exceptionally, there is editorial justification.”

At the time GB News reacted to the ruling as “chilling” in a statement. GB News’ Darren Grimes, accusing Ofcom of partisan bias, specifically cited Lammy’s LBC show.