GB News were cleared of wrongdoing (Image: GB News)
has officially been cleared of three more breaches of the broadcasting code by . This comes after a judicial review on February 28, which quashed two Ofcom breach decisions against GB News relating to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s show, State of the Nation.
They also scored a victory over the regulator, which claimed that the channel had breached broadcasting rules by using former MP Rees-Mogg as a presenter. At the time, Ofcom pointed at the use of politicians as presenters in two programmes. However, in her judgement on Friday, Justice Mrs Collins Rice said the decisions were “vitiated by error of law” as the regulator had failed to distinguish between a news programme and a current affairs show. In a further triumph, Ofcom has now been forced to drop the three breaches related to episodes against GB News’ weekend programme, Saturday with Esther and Phil.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg’s show was cleared (Image: GB News )
The husband and wife duo Ms McVey is the Conservative MP for Tatton, while her husband served as a Tory MP from 2005 until the general election last year.
The court ruling to remove the breaches was underpinned by the decisions relating to Rees-Mogg’s show.
In response, Angelos Frangopoulos, the CEO of GB News, said: “Ofcom has now removed a total of five breaches against GB News. This follows the High Court’s decision that Ofcom had acted unlawfully.
“Although we welcome Ofcom’s adjustment of GB News’ compliance record, we note this only happened after GB News’ lawyers wrote to the regulator asking why its website failed to reflect the High Court’s judgment.
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GB News’ Esther and Phil are also politicians (Image: GB News )
“It is noticeable that whilst Ofcom has previously rushed to social media to publicise new investigations and breach decisions against GB News – including in relation to the five breach decisions that have now been withdrawn – no equivalent posts were made to make the public aware of the High Court’s decision or the withdrawal of the five breach decisions.”
Angelos continued: “Free speech is a fundamental British value. And we are proud to stand for and fight for that right.
“GB News is continuing to thrive with record audiences because it is focused on serving all of the nation’s communities.
“It is delivering on its mission to be The People’s Channel – and it will continue championing Britain’s voices and its values.”