CONSERVATIVE MP Lee Anderson will interview Home Secretary Suella Braverman on his GB News show on Friday evening.
Anderson’s show Real World aims to allow “the silent majority [to] finally have their voices heard”, according to the show’s own description.
Concerns have been raised about whether the interview, which Anderson dubbed an “exclusive scoop” on Twitter/X, will abide by broadcasting impartiality rules.
Exclusive Scoop. Watch me tomorrow on @GBNEWS interview @SuellaBraverman in her first interview on British soil since her landmark speech this week in the US. 7pm tomorrow night 🖥📺 pic.twitter.com/rvtIBeUySD
— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) September 28, 2023
John Nicolson MP said that the interview "seems designed as a challenge to Ofcom’s authority".
Given this week’s events at GB News, and the fact @Ofcom has already ruled against the channel over two Tory MPs interviewing a Tory Chancellor, this trailed show - the Tory vice Chair interviewing the Tory Home Secretary - seems designed as a challenge to Ofcom’s authority. pic.twitter.com/GEXtdzpKVZ
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) September 28, 2023
Anderson receives £100,000 a year for his show on top of his £86,584 MP’s salary, and he also serves as the Conservative Party’s deputy chairman.
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, said there was no rule within the Broadcasting Code to prevent the interview from taking place.
It will be the first interview in the UK the Home Secretary takes part in after giving an extreme speech in which she claimed “multiculturalism has failed” in Europe.
What does impartiality mean?
Impartiality means not favouring one side or the other.
The Ofcom Broadcasting Code states that news must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
Due impartiality means a broadcast must not favour one side or the other, but that reporting must be adequate or appropriate to the subject and nature of the programme.
This does not mean that an equal division of time must be given to every view or argument.
When a mistake is made, it must be acknowledged and corrected on air quickly.
Can politicians host TV shows?
Ofcom regulations state that a serving politician cannot be a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in a news programme, unless (in exceptional cases) it is editorially justified and the political allegiance of that person is made clear to the audience.
Politicians can host a TV or radio show if they are not standing for an election.
This means politicians can host current affairs shows, for example, as long as they remain within impartiality rules and reflect a wide range of views.
Yet when it comes to a politician interviewing another politician, particularly on matters of current political relevance, the rules become less clear.
There are special impartiality requirements when broadcasters are dealing with matters of political controversy and matters relating to current public policy, particularly when they are of national or international importance.
For example, views and facts must not be misrepresented in a show that deals with matters of political controversy.
Any personal interest of a reporter or presenter must also be made clear to the audience.
Participants may express their own views on such matters, but alternative viewpoints must be adequately represented either in the programme, or in a series of programmes which are editorially linked and which deal with the same or related issues.
When a participant outlines a personal view, this must be clearly signaled to the audience at the outset.
It is also against the Broadcasting Code to provide a significant imbalance of views when discussing matters relating to current political controversy or public policy
Has GB News been in breach of impartiality before?
Ofcom previously found GB News in breach of impartiality rules when Jeremy Hunt was interviewed by Esther McVey and Philip Davies, both sitting Conservative MPs.
The channel is currently under investigation by Ofcom for six incidents of potential Broadcasting Code breaches.
GB News is also facing criticism over comments made by Laurence Fox regarding journalist Ava Evans, which has so far led to the suspension of three presenters.
