Ofcom have cleared Piers Morgan for saying on GMTV he doesn't believe a word MM says

I have thoroughly disliked PM after he went on Have I got News For You and became quite threatening to Ian Hislop when he didn't like some of the banter. It just showed what an unpleasant character he was and as he had just been sacked from his Editor's job for his part in Insider Dealing, it was something that showed that he was also dishonest. His sucking up to Trump just confirmed my suspicions of him.
I stopped watching GMTV when he became a presenter. I dislike the way he presents himself, he is just a bully as far as I am concerned. Personally I don't find that he is good at putting politicians on the spot. It is no good asking difficult questions if you are just going to keep talking over them as they start to reply. Asking the same question over and over again without drawing breath is never going to allow the listener to hear what the person has to say.
Was OFCOM right? I don't know but I suspect that if they were more critical of PM in their report, it wouldn't have been reported. I think more balanced reporting might have explained it better for those of us who are too busy to read their response in detail.

JenniferEccles

I am delighted to hear this.

Ofcom’s statement said it’s code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views.

It went on to say that restrictions of such views would be a chilling restriction on freedom of expression.
In other words Piers Morgan was perfectly entitled to state that he didn’t believe a word Meghan Markle said.

I know Piers Morgan is a bit of a divisive figure, but this ruling is not really about him but more about protecting freedom of speech.

A good decision in my opinion.

I believe that it also mentioned that other people involved in the particular broadcast were arguing against what he said so the whole thing was a balanced discussion.

I didn't see it so can't comment. But odious as he can be, I don't believe he is any worse than MM

I found PM interesting as he called out politicians who were not doing their job during the pandemic. It was an interesting show to watch.
I think he's a devout Royalist and detested Harry and Megan for criticising the RF.
He should be reinstated in GMB as other presenters are boring. ITV have also replaced other presenters which were really good like Eamon and Ruth. The mornings shows aren't great now so I rarely watch it.

Piers Morgan us not everyone’s cup of tea and he is forthright to the point of being quite rude at times but I think if Ofcom had ruled differently there could have been a lot of implications for future freedom of speech and press. Loads of complaints about the remarks he made but even more viewers deserted GMTV since he left apparently. I don’t get to see it either way, too busy getting ready for work

Some mornings I had to turn the volume down when PM started his rants, but now it seems boring at times and I've turned over. They have had so many different presenters in over the summer and none have come close to PM style of interviewing.
Also I would of preferred Christine Lampard staying on presenting, letting Lorraine remain on her holidays....

I don’t particularly like him but he is entitled to his opinion. It’s worrying that people are having to be so careful what they say nowadays

Of on cleared GMB, not Piers Morgan, as his co presenters made comments to the contrary so the programme was cleared of bias. Love him or hate Piers Morgan is allowed to express his opinion and I reckon half the population would agree with his remark.

Hurrah, common sense prevailed.
Regardless of anyone's personal feelings about PM, had the ruling not been in his favour it would have have been detrimental to our freedom of speech.

i was never a fan of pm or mm but they are both entitled to their opinion, gmb was never meant to be a news programme like sky or bbc. the only person i feel sorry for is prince harry. i did have a laugh when pm called mm the pinoocchio princess.

I for one haven't watched GMB since Piers left. I didn't agree with all his opinions and didn't like the way he interrupts or speaks over other people which I considered to be very rude. But having said that the program now is dull and boring without him and not worth the cost of electricity.

Agree with JenniferEccles - but would add that we should be more concerned with those fundamental rights and freedoms than the personalities to whom we seem to devote far more energy than is deserved.

I'm one of those who prefers that my newscasters (yea, I'm that old) just report the news without personal comment.

I do understand that these programmes are more magazine than just a news broadcast these days, which is why I choose not to watch them. Nevertheless, I think a presenter should present, not comment either for or against.

icanhandthemback

I have thoroughly disliked PM after he went on Have I got News For You and became quite threatening to Ian Hislop when he didn't like some of the banter. It just showed what an unpleasant character he was and as he had just been sacked from his Editor's job for his part in Insider Dealing, it was something that showed that he was also dishonest. His sucking up to Trump just confirmed my suspicions of him.
I stopped watching GMTV when he became a presenter. I dislike the way he presents himself, he is just a bully as far as I am concerned. Personally I don't find that he is good at putting politicians on the spot. It is no good asking difficult questions if you are just going to keep talking over them as they start to reply. Asking the same question over and over again without drawing breath is never going to allow the listener to hear what the person has to say.
Was OFCOM right? I don't know but I suspect that if they were more critical of PM in their report, it wouldn't have been reported. I think more balanced reporting might have explained it better for those of us who are too busy to read their response in detail.

But what the other channels were doing was asking a question and then sitting nodding while the politician answered a completely different question.
I couldn't care less about MM and I couldn't care less about PM but I found last year very frustrating as so called experienced interviewers didn't seem able to deal with the lies and evasions. At least PM didn't let them get away with it.

I'm not sure that you know how his interviews with politicians went during the pandemic if you weren't watching.

I used to enjoy watching Piers lambasting ministers, particularly about covid.

Alegrias1

^I did feel at the time of watching it that Alex was going at PM more than I expected.^

He's probably just a straight talker.

I don't think PM expected AB to go at him in the way he did.
I'm not saying either right or wrong just my observation when I was watching it.
Aren't all presenters straight talkers unless on the BBC.
I felt PM felt that as he was the headling act, Alex the weatherman, stepped too far out of his shadow and that made PM cross.
I aren't criticising either for it.
I have noticed since PM left AB has presented more.

MissAdventure

I used to enjoy watching Piers lambasting ministers, particularly about covid.

When the care home where an elderly relative with dementia lives had a covid outbreak I was more than happy to PM confronting members of the govt about how they'd allowed it to happen.

She got covid but fortunately survived, other didn't.

icanhandthemback
Piers Morgan didn’t get the sack for insider dealing
He was sacked for printing fake pictures of Iraqis being tortured by uk troops.
In his defence he said that he did everything he could to make sure they were legit.

Fanny Cornforth
She does bring out the worst in a lot of people. Quite a talent that
That strikes me as very true and wonder what is is that sparks such venom

Whatever you think about Piers Morgan, he had every right to speak his view, it's high time Free Speech was reinstated in this county, that is what democracy is all about. We've had enough of the woke idealogy taking over. Indeed it was a victory for free speech to be upheld and should never have been brought into question. We live in dangerous times, our independence and right to be heard have been stealthily taken away. Well done Piers for not apologising for his view.

It's a victory for freedom of speech hopefully it will be the beginning of the end of all this crazy woke stuff

Fannycornforth, I agree, it's quite a talent MM has. (Bringing out the worst in people.)

Indeed and part of free speech is that I can say what a creepy stalker ish man Morgan is.

Dislike him, stopped watching itv morning news because he wouldn’t let people have their say kept interrupting them.

Never watched the programme but read about his comments and although I don't like him I agree that MM spoke a load of rubbish and I wouldn't believe anything she said either.

I agree with you GeorgyGirl when you praised PM for not apologising for what he said.

It does seem that as soon as there is a complaint, too many people end up issuing a grovelling apology instead of having the courage to stand by what they said. It happens time and time again doesn’t it?

I find Piers Morgan’s manner intensely irritating at times, but more often than not I find myself agreeing with him, so yes well done him for standing up for free speech.

His views are far more in tune with the majority of people in this country compared with the increasing vocal irritating ‘woke’ brigade.