British Newspaper, the New World, has published a consequential exposé into GB News, which raises important questions about the hijacking of British media by the political right.
GB News has not only welcomed a multitude of right-wing MPs but has actively endorsed their position. This comes despite widespread complaints of unfair public influence. In other words, GB News has become the media arm of Reform UK—its political mouthpiece.
Political bias has long been a football kicked about from pillar to post between the left and right, due to its inevitable potential to manipulate public perception. And Ofcom’s continued silence surrounding the channel’s indiscretions suggest that far-right political bias is a newly accepted norm for the regulator. This raises urgent questions about the nefarious influence Reform UK exercises in British society. In the political sphere more specifically, this is deeply concerning—especially at a time when alternative and indie media are increasingly silenced.
The investigation also underscores the sway billionaires have and their ability to ‘stack the deck’ by funnelling millions into broadcast media to lead the public astray.
A massively consequential investigation by Alan Rusbridger into GB News: how “one political party in Britain has effectively ended up with its own television station”. Raises deep questions about hi-jacking of British media/political culture: https://t.co/OmiMsKzFLE
— Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) March 18, 2026
Ofcom lets the far-right get away with it
The Farage-backed outlet has been the subject of numerous scandals during its comparatively short tenure. The MP-fronted, billionaire-funded channel first aired in June 2021. This made it the first start-up in television news since Sky News in 1989. From the onset, it displayed a clear bias with many critics and viewers complaining that its coverage violates the laws of due impartiality in UK broadcasting.
As usual, the super-rich are focused on their own interests and lack any consideration for regulatory guardrails, driving, in as the investigation reports:
a coach and horses through the laws that were put in place to define broadcasting in the UK.
The investigation, headed by Alan Rusbridger, commissioned 20 journalists to sit through hours of GB News coverage to assess its impact on our news ecosystem.
Given their huge influence in shaping public understanding, TV news channels are required to provide accurate, impartial coverage that includes all relevant viewpoints in order to receive a licence.
Of course, that cannot be squared with GB News and its hateful, venom-spitting presenters who double up as Reform MPs.
Magnificent article & investigation by Alan Rusbridger on how the utterly useless Ofcom allowed one of its regulated TV channels, GBNews, to be taken over by a political party. https://t.co/qtVUZXgFRX
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) March 18, 2026
The investigation found that:
GB News routinely – you might almost say systematically – disregards these requirements. Asked to score the programmes on a scale of 0-5 (0 being not at all compliant with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code and 5 being wholly compliant), the overall score from our reviewers was just 1.5. Each reviewer came up with detailed reasoning.
Ofcom’s log of complaints, by contrast, shows a tiny trickle of concern. Of the 15 programmes we reviewed, nine had triggered no complaints, two sparked two complaints, while a kid-glove interview with Donald Trump led to 32. Two more programmes are “under assessment”.
Reform UK: Out of touch with the public at large
Surprisingly, the investigating team found that the channel rarely receives complaints. This suggests that its outreach is limited to an overwhelmingly right-wing audience. They cite a poll conducted by the Reform UK candidate for the Gorton and Denton, and a GB News presenter, Matt Goodwin, in which he asked the public whether they agreed with Trump’s ‘unrecognisable Europe’ speech. An astounding 97% gave a positive response. This highlights the growing gulf between GB News, including their viewership, and the rest of British society.
I have an aging colleague who suddenly out of nowhere started making random racist, ignorant, pro-russia, and unscientific comments.
It baffled us all until we realised that she was just repeating GB News on a 24 hour delay. https://t.co/XrPHEojHhI— tern (@1goodtern) March 18, 2026
According to a YouGov poll conducted in January, only 16% of Britons think favourably of Trump. In contrast, a whopping 81% have unfavourable opinions of the orange, ego-driven buffoon. Clearly GB News‘ business model is to appeal to that 16%. This reinforces the justifications for strict regulatory control over undue media influence.
Nevertheless, it appears Ofcom couldn’t give a damn about GB News’ rule breaking. Rule-breaking which is pretty obvious, according to the findings of the investigation:
The New World assembled a team of 20 journalists to assess 15 hours of prime-time GB News shows from January, as well as the Trump interview, which led to 65,000 people signing a petition for Ofcom to censure.
Each programme was assessed by two different reviewers. They found numerous glaring breaches of impartiality; a widespread disregard for accuracy; a predominant framing of news in ways that overlap with Reform’s political agenda; a systemic use of Reform politicians, candidates and supporters; and an overwhelmingly right wing bias in choice of guests and issues.
GB News should be made to have a warning on the screen that their programmes contain outdated cultural descriptions that non-racist viewers are likely to find offensive. https://t.co/gEE0qHSRl5
— Mark Cockerton (@CockertonMark) March 18, 2026
Before allegations of ‘witch hunts’ fly in, the transparency and balance of the investigation offers a sound defence against potential acts from the usual suspects. It’s important to note that the journalists involved represent a broad spectrum of newspapers and broadcasters. From the right-wing Spectator to the liberal Guardian, Daily Mail, and BBC News, each agreed with the findings of the investigation.
Integrity in the mainstream media does exist—could’ve fooled us!
“Farage propaganda dressed up as a panel show”
In regard to the views of journalists involved, the investigation stated:
One wrote of Nigel Farage’s evening show: “This programme is Farage propaganda dressed up as a panel show.” Another wrote of a programme presented by Reform politician Matt Goodwin: “Absolutely did not comply. It was one man’s rant against immigration, supported by compliant and affirmative opinions and a pretence of an opposing view that was shut down rapidly. It was a disgrace.”
Farage, it hardly needs emphasising, is the leader of a political party that is currently leading in the opinion polls, with some political experts speculating that Reform could even form, or be part of, the next government. It is unprecedented for a political leader to be given their own news and current affairs programme on British television.
GB News lives by its own rules and Ofcom is perfectly willing to throw the rule book out of the window for this billionaire-interested political party. It would even seem that the supposed regulator believes the hateful views espoused by the channel to be ‘accurate.’
This calls the regulator’s impartiality into question, since biased rule-makers cannot provide un-biased remedies. A functioning democracy does not silence political views. It should make space for diverse perspectives to shape better decisions.
Therefore, this investigation brings to the forefront an urgent question; is Ofcom a smokescreen to create the image of neutrality?
If so, this imbalance actively hurts our democracy and fails to inform the public fairly and transparently. We need a new one, clearly.
Read the full investigation here.
Featured image via the New World
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