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Dear John,

You don’t need a complex regulatory code to question GB News’ political impartiality (but it helps). Since its inception as a media outlet, it’s been a hub of partisan talking points, culture war babbling, and divisive nonsense. If you’re fortunate enough not to have seen their programming, imagine three hardline Conservative MPs shaking hands and patting each other on the back for eighteen straight hours a day.

Ofcom, bound by such codes, determined today that GB News has in fact breached impartiality rules. Five of their programmes included active politicians acting as newsreaders ([link removed]) or reporters – including Jacob Rees-Mogg’s blatant propaganda programme. While it’s (somehow) the first violation of these specific rules in the code (5.1 and 5.3), this is the twelfth time they’ve broken the broadcasting rules more broadly in their short 3-year existence.

Surely this time, there should have been real consequences. Instead, Ofcom is putting GB News “on notice”. Any further breaches of rules 5.1 and 5.3 could, they claim, result in a sanction (such as a requirement to apologise and correct a claim, pay a fine, or at worst, have their license revoked). Apparently twelve breaches in three years isn’t enough of a trend to convince them.

Media regulation – and our calls to reform it – may seem complicated, but it’s dead simple. It all boils down to the fact that real accountability is harder and harder to come by, less and less likely to be enforced. Bad actors, whether in Westminster, Tufton Street, or Riverbank House, no longer fear breaking the rules. They think they can get away with it. Increasingly, they’re right.

At a time like this, the country can’t afford to have propaganda networks spreading lies with impunity and presenting it as “news”. Undermining the very integrity of democratic debate deserves more than a mild scolding or a slap on the wrist. As we lay out in our Functional Democracy Goals report ([link removed]) , we need real media reform with real teeth.

Check out recommendations #9, #10, and #11 for our thoughts on how to get started, and check out the work of our friends (and report contributors) at HackedOff ([link removed]) for more info on what needs to be done to get press reform moving. In the meantime, we’ll keep fighting to call out the lies where we seem and push for a system with real accountability.

Yours,

Open Britain Team
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