The UK Culture Secretary has said politicians from all parties have raised concerns with her over Nigel Farage presenting TV shows on GB News.
Lisa Nandy said this morning that the “shared spaces and shared understanding” that forms the “basis of democracy” is “fracturing” as networks like GB News choose to have high-profile politicians present topical current affairs programs.
Speaking to the Culture, Media & Sport Committee, Nandy called out Farage, the leader of the challenger Reform UK party and a friend of Donald Trump, who still presents a regular show on the right-leaning GB News including a two-hour debate on immigration tonight.
“I’ve had particular concerns raised with me by parliamentarians by the appearance of Nigel Farage presenting news programs on GB News,” said Nandy. “That is a fair critique from all members of political parties because the public have a right to know if what they are seeing is impartial news or not.”
The “fracturing” caused by this trend is “very very dangerous” and a “very very dangerous position for the country to be in,” Nandy added.
She had been responding to a question on impartial news media and spoke passionately about her fears that the British public are struggling to distinguish between “political polemic” and impartial news. “At the moment that is completely unsatisfactory,” she added.
The issue of politicians presenting news shows has been raised frequently since GB News launched and regulator Ofcom is currently examining the matter via a consultation, which may end up changing the law to make it clearer that a politician cannot be used as a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter in any type of program. “We will look closely at what Ofcom presents to us and if it is an area in which we intend to act,” added Nandy.
Farage’s Reform UK party is currently way ahead in the polls of the governing Labour Party. The popular figure has been working for GB News for years and has previously appeared on British TV shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Swinging in behind the BBC
Having come in for some criticism about her recent critiques of the BBC amid multiple scandals, Nandy swung in behind the nation’s public broadcaster during her committee hearing. She revealed the terms of reference for the BBC’s 2027 charter renewal – at which point its new funding model will be set – are going to be published imminently.
She also praised the way in which BBC bosses Tim Davie and Samir Shah have reacted to the string of scandals involving the botched Gaza documentary, Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance and ex-MasterChef host Gregg Wallace. “I have been heartened by their change of stance and the progress that has been made,” said Nandy. “I am clear that I expect to see the BBC move more quickly and be more robust when these issues arise in the future.”
She said she considers the BBC to be “one of the two most important institutions in this country alongside the NHS [National Health Service].”
Nandy was expected to leave her role when Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffled his top team earlier this week, but she stayed on. Her culture minister Chris Bryant, a popular figure in the TV and film industry, was moved to the business and trade department, replaced by Ian Murray.
