Ofcom has fined GB News £100,000 over impartiality during its People’s Forum: The Prime Minister live show with Rishi Sunak. The broadcast aired in February 2024 and saw the former prime minister answer questions from a live audience in the run up to the 2024 General Election . Ofcom has concluded that Mr Sunak had a “mostly uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his Government” and "the seriousness and repeated nature of this breach" meant the regulator would impose a financial penalty.
A spokesperson added: "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 the decision, describing it as a "direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom". The channel also says that Ofcom's fine "remains subject to the outcome of a judicial review" after the High Court granted permission.
GB News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos said in a statement : “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 pla.