MP calls for Ofcom probe after BBC uses GB News clip of Nigel Farage
Max Wilkinson, the LibDems' culture and media spokesperson at Westminster, has written to Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of watchdog Ofcom, urging her to open an investigation.
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Wilkinson said in his letter to Dawes that he believes that the BBC breached section 5 of the Ofcom broadcasting code, which states that the corporation must not 'give undue prominence to the views and opinions of particular persons or bodies on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy'.
The LibDem MP goes on: 'As I'm sure you are aware, numerous parliamentarians and media commentators have expressed concern that Britain's national broadcaster is currently giving disproportionate coverage to one political party, namely Reform.
'The BBC's weighting of Reform's reactions to national and international news is disproportionate to the small number of seats they hold in Parliament.
'It is in this context that I write to request your review of yesterday [Thursday] evening's broadcast. Yesterday afternoon, Nigel Farage's boat trip to the Channel was carried by GB News, amongst other outlets. I understand that the BBC was not originally one of those outlets.
'However, the BBC still carried Farage's comments for the 6 O'Clock News, clipping GB News' own broadcast for their programme.
GB News went on a boat trip with Nigel Farage into the Channel, and the BBC used the footage (Image: GB News) 'My issue is not with the reuse of other broadcasters' material in and of itself but with the lengths gone to by the BBC to carry the voice of one politician, lengths that we imagine would not be proportionately extended to other political parties.
'However, I would also add that licence payers' money seems poorly spent on the BBC if that outlet is 'cutting and pasting' other broadcast outlets' content, rather than fulfilling its duties to research and report news independently and impartially.'
Wilkinson claimed that the BBC were 'making special allowances' in order to feature Farage, warning that it risks 'delegitimising its platform; undermining its reputation for impartiality; and undercutting its commitment to providing a distinct, unbiased news service'.
'I am concerned that this approach blurs the lines between independent broadcast journalism and partisan political coverage,' he wrote.
READ MORE: BBC issues correction after Scottish Government driving test claim
'It is for these reasons that I ask you to open an official investigation into this issue. I hope you will take appropriate action, should you agree that the BBC's due impartiality requirements have once again not been met.'
The LibDems won 72 Westminster seats in the 2024 General Election, while Reform UK won five. However, Reform have more recently been polling above Labour and the Tories in UK-wide surveys.
BBC guidelines say that both should be taken into account when deciding on the prominence to give any one party's views.
The BBC News broadcast which sparked the complaint is not available on the corporation's iPlayer.
Ofcom and the BBC have both been asked for comment.
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