Ofcom Investigates Rishi Sunak’s GB News People’s Forum

Rishi Sunak takes centre stage at the GB News People’s Forum to answer questions on policy. (Screengrab via GB News/YouTube)

Ofcom launched an investigation Monday into Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent appearance on GB News after complaints that the show breached rules on impartiality.

The probe will focus on the People’s Forum: The Prime Minister episode, which aired on 12 February 2024 and attracted around 500 complaints.

Host Stephen Dixon insisted to viewers that the questions posed to Sunak by “undecided voters” were not screened in advance by either the Prime Minister or GB News.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We are investigating under rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code which provide additional due impartiality requirements for programmes dealing with matters of major political controversy and major matters relating to current public policy.”

Ofcom continued: “Specifically, rules 5.11 and 5.12 require that an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight in such programmes, or in clearly linked and timely programmes.”

There are several impartiality probes open against GB News, the broadcaster that has a number of sitting Conservative politicians hired to its hosting roster, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and MP Lee Anderson.