GB News is facing a substantial fine following a High Court ruling against it. This case involves a February broadcast featuring Rishi Sunak, which Ofcom ruled breached impartiality rules. Over 500 complaints were received, with accusations of unbalanced perspectives. The court favoured Ofcom, allowing the sanctions process to continue. GB News may challenge the decision through a judicial review.
The High Court has ruled against GB News, allowing Ofcom to proceed with imposing sanctions for a February programme that featured former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This decision follows over 500 complaints from viewers, who argued that the programme failed to present balanced viewpoints, thereby breaching Ofcom’s impartiality rules.
During the legal proceeding, GB News sought an injunction to halt Ofcom from publicising details of the sanctions, citing potential irreparable damage to its reputation. However, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that public interest in upholding broadcasting standards outweighed these concerns, affirming Ofcom’s role in ensuring compliance among broadcasters.
Ofcom has preliminarily decided to levy a significant fine on GB News, further reinforcing its commitment to impartiality in broadcasting. However, the court has permitted GB News the opportunity to undertake a judicial review of the breach decision, which provides a pathway for contesting the regulator’s findings.
This development occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of GB News, which has previously violated Ofcom’s broadcasting rules on multiple occasions. Notably, the employment of political figures such as Jacob Rees-Mogg as presenters has attracted criticism, with recent episodes found in violation of regulations prohibiting politicians from acting as newscasters.
The case sets a pivotal precedent for future regulatory measures regarding political content on UK news channels. Ofcom has expressed approval of the court’s decision to advance the sanctions process, highlighting the importance of maintaining broadcasting standards.
The outcome of this case is likely to influence future regulatory actions concerning political content on UK news channels.
