Ofcom has got into a spat with Today presenter Nick Robinson over the channel’s rulings on GB News. Robinson complained this morning that Nigel Farage can present programmes on the channel along with Reform leader Tice and Lee Anderson MP. When someone pointed out that David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, has a show on LBC, Robinson said “he’ll be a candidate so not permitted to present during an election campaign“. Which also applies to Anderson – D’oh!

So, @Nigel_Farage – one of the founders & owners of @reformparty_uk – can present an “impartial” programme on a TV “news” channel during the general election according to the broadcasting regulator @ofcom. The leader of the party @TiceRichard & its only MP @LeeAndersonMP_ can… https://t.co/G210M6rTp3

— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) April 24, 2024

Ofcom’s executive for broadcast regulation Cristina Nicolotti Squires has admitted anti-GB News fanatics are hell-bent on destroying the channel:

“There are some people who won’t be happy unless we shut GB News down tomorrow and that’s not the kind of country we live in. We’re not censors. Nick would be the first one to be cross if Ofcom told him how Today ought to be. We live in a country with editorial freedom and the right for broadcasters to decide how they make programmes. It’s up to them to make them impartial.”

Ofcom is yet to decide if Farage is counted as a politician, which would make his show very difficult to do according to the rules. Even ITV refers to him as an “ex-politician”…