Media Watchdog Ofcom Rules Against GB News Over Immigration Segment

Media watchdog Ofcom ruled Monday that GB News failed to uphold impartiality standards during a segment hosted by ex-Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney, who was filling in for fired host Laurence Fox.

On June 16, Daubney shared his opinions about immigration and asylum amidst a debate on small vessels navigating the English Channel. In the same show Daubney, the former vice-chair of the Reclaim Party, also interviewed the current leader of the Reform Party Richard Tice.

Ofcom clarified on Monday that the show did not satisfy the “heightened impartiality requirements” relevant for discussions touching on “major political disputes and current public policy.”

“GB News should have taken additional steps to ensure that due impartiality was preserved,” the statement read. “Our investigation found Mr Tice presented his views on immigration and asylum policy with insufficient challenge, and the limited alternative views presented in the programme were dismissed. The programme therefore did not include and give due weight to an appropriately wide range of significant views, as required by the Code.”

Furthermore, Ofcom said: “We anticipate GB News to factor in this ruling in their oversight of subsequent shows.”

The video is still available on GB News’ Youtube page.

Daubney was substituting for Fox on the June 16th show. Fox, an actor-turned-activist, was later fired from GB News due to misogynistic remarks he made on air regarding journalist Ava Evans on an episode of Dan Wootton Tonight. An internal investigation into suspended host Dan Wootton related to the incident is still ongoing.

Ofcom highlighted that there are “12 ongoing inquiries into GB News, with a commitment to finalise them in a timely manner.”