Ofcom rushes to close loophole that lets politicians act as newsreaders
GuardianMAR 19
UK: Ofcom Drops Political TV Cases After GB News Court Victory
Above: Jacob Rees-Mogg in the studio at GB News during his new show Jacob Rees-Mogg's State of The Nation on Feb. 27, 2023. Image copyright: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The Broadcasting Code exists to ensure due impartiality in news coverage. While the High Court may have ruled in GB News' favor, this is only because of a regulatory loophole surrounding "news" versus "current affairs." Ofcom must now look to closing this loophole — ensuring TV and radio services can no longer manipulate the rules in order to benefit their ideological preferences.
Establishment-critical narrative
The regulatory overreach by Ofcom threatened fundamental British values of free speech. It is no surprise that Ofcom, full of former state-funded ITV and BBC cronies, sought to silence honest and critical broadcasting voices. The High Court ruling vindicates editorial decision-making and exposes a coordinated campaign by establishment pressure groups trying to undermine democratic discourse.