Jacob Rees-Mogg’s GB News show investigated by Ofcom over impartiality rules

Media watchdog says broadcasting code prevents politicians acting as newsreader, interviewer or reporter unless ‘editorially justified’

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s GB News show is being investigated by Ofcom for a potential breach of the rules.

The UK media watchdog launched four further investigations into the channel’s compliance with due impartiality rules.

Ofcom said it was looking at three programmes, including Jacob Rees-Mogg’s show ‘State Of The Nation’, in relation to its rule that politicians must not act as news presenters.

Mr Rees-Mogg’s show is being investigated for a programme that aired on 13 June 2023 and discussed a stabbing incident in Nottingham.

It is also investigating an episode from Laurence Fox, which was guest-presented by Martin Daubney and featured an interview with Richard Tice, the leader of the political party Reform UK.

The programme included a discussion about immigration and asylum policy, particularly in relation to small boats crossing the English Channel.

The fourth investigation concerns an episode of ‘Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil’, which aired on 12 May 2023, hosted by serving MPs and husband and wife duo Esther Mcvey and Philip Davies.

During the programme, there was discussion about a range of issues including a matter relating to a teenager who was being sentenced for terrorism offences.

Their show is also being investigated for featuring an interview with Howard Cox – the Reform UK Party’s candidate for the London Mayoral Election – speaking live from an anti-Ultra Low Emission Zone demonstration.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has his own show on GB News (PA Wire)

As well as the ‘politicians as presenters’ rule, Ofcom said it was also assessing the programme’s compliance of presenting with impartiality.

Ofcom said: “We will work to conclude our investigations as swiftly as possible in accordance with our formal published procedures.”

The investigations come months after Adam Baxter, director of broadcasting standards at Ofcom, said that the watchdog will be looking at GB News to see if the broadcaster is “behaving itself” following the channel breaching its broadcasting code with Covid claims for the second time.