Ofcom To Investigate Shows On GB News & TalkTV Helmed By Politicians

deadline.com:

UK regulator Ofcom has launched investigations into shows hosted by politicians on GB News and TalkTV, including one featuring a segment on Donald Trump’s civil trial.

The first investigation concerns former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation for right-leaning GB News in which the recently-knighted Boris Johnson supporter covered a breaking news story about the verdict involving the former POTUS.

State of the Nation received 40 Ofcom complaints. Both GB News and TalkTV have of late been using politicians to host topical shows but they have consistently stayed within the realms of the regulator’s Broadcasting Code as they are allowed to interview other politicians and discuss topical issues as long as due impartiality is met.

Rees-Mogg’s show may have strayed as politicians are not allowed to act as newsreaders unless under “exceptional circumstances.” The regulator will also investigate an episode of Talk TV’s Richard Tice show presented by former Scottish- National-Party-leader-turned-Alba-Party head Alex Salmond, which attracted two complaints about the due impartiality of the program, specifically in relation to a discussion on whether the Scottish National Party was “hold[ing] back the course of independence.” The issue of politicians hosting shows has been a hot button topic of late and Ofcom is already investigating an episode of GB News’ Saturday Morning with Esther and Philip in which husband-and-wife politician duo Esther McVey and Philip Davies interviewed the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt about his budget.