Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether a GB News programme with Rishi Sunak breached impartiality rules.
People’s Forum: The Prime Minister, which saw the PM take questions from the public in a live Q&A in Co Durham last Monday, has prompted about 500 complaints.
A spokesperson for the communications watchdog said: “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.
“Specifically, rules 5.11 and 5.12 require that an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight in such programmes, or in clearly linked and timely programmes.”
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.
GB News is currently being investigated by Ofcom for a number of other shows, including many over impartiality issues.
Politicians such as former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Tory MP Lee Anderson presenting topical programmes has also been contentious.
Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries began hosting a programme on TalkTV before she quit as an MP.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also hosts a show on LBC.
