Lib Dems call for Ofcom investigation on GB News “bias and misleading” reporting of Post Office scandal

EMBARGO: Immediate release

• Deputy Leader slams Farage and Conservative MP presenters for “bias, misleading and at times, frankly absurd news reporting”

• Conservative politicians lining up to host TV shows in election year whilst refusing to criticise their own party

The Liberal Democrats have written to Ofcom to demand an investigation into the reporting of the Post Office Horizon scandal by Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson.

The party has noted that the Reform Party Chairman Farage and Conservative MP Rees-Mogg both failed to report on the scandal impartially, after they attacked opposition parties without including the Conservative government’s role.

In a letter to the Chief Executive of OfCom, Daisy Cooper MP also noted that Lee Anderson cannot be trusted to report without bias on the matter, after non-stop attacks on the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on social media and in the House of Commons. 

In her letter to OfCom, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP said:

“I am writing to you to call for an investigation into GB News’s coverage of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

“This is a General Election year. British democracy deserves better than bias, misleading and at times, frankly absurd news reporting of important matters. 

“I have also been shocked to see Conservative MPs, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, take aim at political leaders from other parties about the scandal, whilst not mentioning his own party’s role in this devastating miscarriage of justice. 

“...these issues must, by law, be presented impartially and cover the whole picture. For those watching GB News evening shows with Conservative and Reform politicians, this is clearly not the case.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The full letter is below. 

Dear Melanie Dawes,

I am writing to you to call for an investigation into GB News’s coverage of the Post Office Horizon scandal. In particular, I refer you to section 5.1 of the OfCom Broadcasting Code which stipulates that “News, in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality”. I believe that there have been multiple breaches of this section, as well sections 5.11 and 5.12 which states explicitly that “an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight” in matters of major political controversy. It is difficult to think of anything more controversial than the Horizon scandal.

This week, we have seen politician presenters from the Conservative party and Reform cover the scandal and interview guests. 

Last night, I was appalled to watch Nigel Farage, the Chairman of Reform, launch a fictitious monologue about Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, with a number of factual inaccuracies. The Liberal Democrats were offered no right of reply. This therefore breaches both the accuracy and impartiality elements of the Ofcom Code.

I have also been shocked to see Conservative MPs, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, take aim at political leaders from other parties about the scandal, whilst not mentioning his own party’s role in this devastating miscarriage of justice. 

There was no mention that the Conservative party handed Paula Vennells a CBE and then made her a non-executive board member in the government. Nor did he mention that the governments of which he was a part dragged their feet over financial redress for the victims.  Conservative MPs hired by GB News have been entirely silent on these matters, resulting in a wholly one-sided and partisan portrayal of a major political controversy.

On Friday, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative party Lee Anderson MP will host his hour long programme on GB News. This is the same Conservative MP who has been posting on social media about other political parties' role in the Horizon scandal. Mr Anderson even asked what appeared to be a planted question during Prime Minister’s Question about it. We have no confidence whatsoever that his programme will cover this topic in an impartial manner. 

Ofcom was given a statutory role by Parliament to ensure that controversial political issues are covered fairly. Of course broadcasters should shine a light on the actions of politicians and ministers. Indeed, we would like to see far more scrutiny of the role played by the 20+ ministers who have been involved during the last 20 years. However, these issues must, by law, be presented impartially and cover the whole picture. For those watching GB News evening shows with Conservative and Reform politicians, this is clearly not the case

Farage, Rees-Mogg and Anderson cannot be trusted to report on this issue fairly and accurately, as your Code requires. We urgently need an investigation into whether GB News is breaching your impartiality and accuracy rules.

This is a General Election year. British democracy deserves better than partisan, misleading and at times, frankly absurd reporting of vital political issues.  

Yours Sincerely

Daisy Cooper MP

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats