GB News fined £100k by Ofcom for 'People's Forum' programme featuring interview with Rishi Sunak

The ‘People’s Forum: The Prime Minister’ programme, which aired on February 12, 2024, prompted an investigation from Ofcom three days after it aired. The show features the now-outgoing Tory leader Sunak answering questions from a studio audience.

In a statement, Ofcom said: “We concluded that the then prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had a mostly uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his Government in a period preceding a UK general election, in breach of Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code.

“Given the seriousness and repeated nature of this breach, Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £100,000 on GB News Limited. We have also directed GB News to broadcast a statement of our findings against it, on a date and in a form determined by us.

“GB News is challenging our original breach decision in this case by judicial review, which we are defending. Ofcom will not enforce this sanction decision until those proceedings are concluded.”

GB previously lost a High Court battle arguing for a temporary black from the watchdog imposing sanctions, with lawyers for the channel saying that it would ause “irreparable damage” to the broadcaster.

GB News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos said: “The announcement by OFCOM to impose sanctions upon GB News in relation to the People’s Forum, is a direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom. We believe these sanctions are unnecessary, unfair and unlawful.

“The High Court has already granted GB News permission to bring a Judicial Review to challenge Ofcom’s decision that the Programme was in breach of due impartiality requirements. The sanction proposed by Ofcom is therefore still subject to that legal challenge.

“The plan to sanction GB News flies in the face of Ofcom’s duty to act fairly, lawfully and proportionately to safeguard free speech, particularly political speech and on matters of public interest. We have believed from the very start the People’s Forum was an important piece of public interest programming, and that appropriate steps were taken to ensure due impartiality and compliance with the Broadcasting Code.

“It was designed to allow members of the public to put their own questions directly to leading politicians. GB News chooses to be regulated and we understand our obligations under the Code. But, equally, Ofcom is obliged by law to uphold freedom of expression and apply its rules fairly and lawfully.

“At the People’s Channel we will continue to fearlessly champion freedom; for our viewers, for our listeners, and for everyone in the United Kingdom. As we have all seen, this is needed more than ever.”