Britain’s media regulator Ofcom is under pressure to investigate a GB News interview with Donald Trump after complaints that it contained misleading and inaccurate claims that the network failed to challenge. The rightwing channel claimed a “world exclusive sit-down interview” with the US president in November, in which Trump asserted that human-induced climate change was “a hoax” and that London had no-go areas for police and that the capital had “sharia law”.
Trump made other claims about law and order and immigration that critics said were either left unchallenged or effectively endorsed by the GB News interviewer Bev Turner, the host of its US-based nightly show.
Among those calling for an investigation is Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding director of standards. He said “I’ve never seen anything comparable on a UK-established domestic broadcaster”.
Ofcom officials have spent the last few weeks examining at least three detailed complaints co-signed by tens of thousands of people, but have not yet decided whether to launch a formal investigation. The regulator is facing increasing accusations that it is reluctant to intervene over politically difficult issues of impartiality.
The complaints point to rules stating broadcasters must not “materially mislead the audience” and rules around due impartiality. A complaint from Bob Ward, from the LSE’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said: “The GB News interview with President Trump was the most blatant example of a British media organisation collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this misinformation.”
Complaints have also been made about Trump’s claim that London has areas “where the police don’t even want to go” and that “you have sharia law where they don’t even want to obey the laws of … your country”.
There was no challenge from the comments from Turner. When Trump said people are “being stabbed in the ass or worse”, she stated: “It’s true … It’s awful, it is. And it feels much safer [in the US].”
A complaint over a lack of impartiality from the 38 Degrees campaign group pointed to Turner “praising and endorsing Trump multiple times”. During the interview, she described a speech by Trump as “one of the greatest moments at the UN” and that she “loved it, it was brilliant”.
nanna8
Rudeness is not becoming.
The word ‘rude’ is often of limited value. Its meaning varies across cultures, societies, and even neighbourhoods. It is usually more productive to explain what specifically caused offense. Whether that offense is reasonable or not, little is gained by merely labeling someone’s behavior as ‘rude.
On the plus side, Wyllow has apologised, and some of the 'objectors' have accepted her word.
This is a chat forum, posters can pass comment without having to research and provide references and verification for their comments. (Allira Fri 02-Jan-26 22:29:51)
But this isn't "Chat" is it? It's News and Politics. You are right in saying the difference really comes down to what the thread is for. In a News and Politics thread, people are talking about real events and real consequences, so it’s fair to expect someone to explain or back up what they’re saying. In a Chat thread, people are often just thinking out loud, reacting, or having a bit of informal back-and-forth. Expecting every comment there to be justified misses the point. Trouble starts when we treat casual chat like a debate chamber, or political discussion like a pub conversation.
I don't watch GB news because it's so biased, by far the best news is Channel 4.
I think people are starting to see through Trump now, wars weren't finished in 24 hours and he just says ridiculous things, like how he spoke to Zelensky and insisted Ukraine were at fault
I said This is a chat forum.
Not thread.
Admins describe the N&P Threads as 'lively' and 'robust'.
😁
Maremia
Admins describe the N&P Threads as 'lively' and 'robust'.
What a nice way of describing the N&P threads. Other words are available though 😉
Most media is biased one way or the other even the BBC, despite a few slipups, but it is probably the most accurate, just take into account that it is a liberal view.
Allira
I said This is a chat forum.
Not thread.
In the Companies own description it's variously described as a "community" or a "social networking site". Under that umbrella they describe "News and Politics" as a "buzzing hive of debate" and "Chat" as "one of our most popular forums". Nowhere does GN describe the whole as a "chat" forum.
Empty rooms come to mind.
🙄
I’m a bit confused by that. If this is just a “chat” where accuracy doesn’t matter, why frame it around an OP talking about misinformation and democracy? The subject seems to invite a bit more care than that.
Loving how some people say they don’t watch GB News yet seem to know so much about it! 🤣
Most panellists and presenters have worked for other TV and radio stations and newspapers.
I watched the Patrick Christys show last night and their panel was Linda Duberley who is probably the most intelligent woman on ANY channel with years of experience as a journalist and broadcaster. She advises the National Council of Women and Breast Cancer Care and has worked with Afghan refugees and spent time in Afghanistan.
There was Labour MP Barry Gardiner who always gets a fair crack of the whip, Publican and Broadcaster Adam Brooks who always speaks his mind and Cristo Foufas who has worked for many TV channels and written for the Spectator and the I.
That was just last night when they discussed several current issues. Of course they don’t all agree with each other but they all get on and it is far better than channels where they only say what they are told to. Over the week they have so many different panellists including doctors, journalists, former Govt advisors, business people, politicians from all parties, self made business people so I think that’s a fair cross section.
They have had a daily advent calendar from various churches which has been a delight over the Christmas period and they did a great Carol Service in a Kent church with most of the presenters doing readings and some lovely hymns and carols on Christmas Eve. The church was packed.
Thanks for sharing such a detailed overview Primrose53 I appreciate the effort you’ve put into describing the shows and panellists, it really gives a clear picture. 🙂
I’m curious about one part, though: you mentioned that GB News is ‘far better than channels where they only say what they are told to.’ Which channels were you thinking of, and which panellists do you mean have agreed to that? I’m just trying to understand your perspective better!"
Considering what has just happened in Venezuela 🇻🇪, and going back to the OP, do GNs think that the Trump organisation should be allowed to collaborate with GB News?
I would say'No'.
Mmmm Barry Gardiner who received nearly £500k from an alleged Chinese agent? Linda Duberley, the most intelligent woman on any channel? Really, who on earth gave her that title? Cristo Foufas, he of Foxy Bingo TV? Adan Brooks, the Essex publican? Nah, none of these people tempt me to watch GB News.
"In a 2023 poll by YouGov 12% of respondents ranked GB News as a trusted news-brand, compared to the BBC's 44%.
In the 2025 Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism survey, the share of respondents who said they watch GB News every week was 9%, behind BBC News (at 47%), ITV News (22%) and Sky News (15%), but ahead of Channel 4 News (8%) and Channel 5 (3%). The British public expressed strong distrust of GB News: 44% of respondents said they do not trust GB News, while 29% said they do. GB News' net trust of -15 was below that of ITV News (+37), BBC News (at +36), Channel 4 News (+30) and Sky News (+24), and it was the only broadcaster with negative net trust.[13]"
I don't know how you explain the difference between slogans and substance, in a way those being shored up by it can accept "foxie48". We can put the facts and figures up and show the holes in arguments, but people still cleave to the lies while refusing to find out facts for themselves.
This scapegoating logic is a mix of cognitive laziness and social manipulation and we will only know it's over when we see streams of its supporters lining up to say "I didn't know" or "they lied to us". History certainly repeats itself even the vilest parts of it that we thought could never return.
Yes anyone who disagrees with you is amazing. We know.
Is A nazi that should say.
That’s not what I said Galaxy. Disagreement isn’t the issue; substituting slogans for evidence is. If you think the facts being raised are wrong, challenge them directly. Dismissing the argument by inventing an insult doesn’t really move the discussion forward.
Sorry if you didn't like what I said.
Which part if history were you referring to.
Of.
Galaxy
Sorry if you didn't like what I said.
Which part if history were you referring to.
I agree or disagree with arguments, not people I don't know from Adam Galaxy. Sometimes there is no argument offered. Those people are best left to there own devices until they do have something to say.
GB News is certainly the identical twin of the Daily Panic aka Daily Express.
Both indulge fairly outrageous Clickbait and, amazingly, time and again get away with it.
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