Ofcom announces probe into Rishi Sunak 'People's Forum' event on GB News
TV watchdog Ofcom has launched a probe into an hour-long GB News Q&A session with Rishi Sunak.
The regulator has received 500 complaints about last Monday's 'People's Forum' broadcast, which saw the PM plead with voters to back him at the general election. He faced questions on the NHS and the failing Rwanda deportation scheme - but little on tax cuts or the cost-of-living crisis.
Ofcom is looking at whether impartiality rules were broken. It said in a statement: "We have launched an investigation into 'People's Forum: The Prime Minister' on GB News under our due impartiality rules. We have received around 500 complaints about the programme which aired on GB News on 12 February 2024. We are investigating under Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code which provide additional due impartiality requirements for programmes dealing with matters of major political controversy and major matters relating to current public policy".
The PM faced a cross-section of voters in a programme which saw him quizzed by audience members. It was shown in a slot usually taken by Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's State of the Nation show.
Mr Sunak took the opportunity to plead for voters not to transfer their allegiance to other parties like Reform UK. He told audience members: “The next election is a straightforward choice. At the end of it, either Keir Starmer or I am going to be prime minister and a vote for anyone who is not a Conservative candidate is simply a vote to put Keir Starmer into No 10.”
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Unfortunately for the PM it doesn't look like he managed to convince voters in the studio. One said as she left: "I've not changed my mind, I'm still very undecided, I wasn't very impressed with the answers that were coming back." Another undecided audience member said: "I think it's lost. To be totally honest he's trying his best but I don't think the Conservatives can win at the next election."
Under the broadcasting code a wide range of significant views "must be included and given due weight". During the broadcast, presenter Stephen Dixon said the questions to be asked by undecided voters had not been seen in advance by the Prime Minister or by GB News.
Last week The Mirror revealed an RAF jet flew over 200 miles to pick the PM up from the Teesside International Airport in Durham after the show. Downing Street said Mr Sunak does not regret taking part in the show.
Asked about the watchdog's actions, his official spokesman told reporters: "No. This is obviously a matter firstly for Ofcom, who's rightly an independent regulator. But obviously, as you'll see regularly, the Prime Minister undertakes interviews from a range of broadcasters, outlets and other media. And media appearances such as the one he conducted last week are an important part of the democratic process."
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