A SOMERSET MP has hit out broadcaster GB News for presenting viewers with “unverified and frankly, racist” information.
Anna Sabine (Lib Dem, Frome and East Somerset) has written to the chief executive of media watchdog Ofcom to request a formal investigation into a recent GB News programme, hosted by Martin Daubney, which appeared to draw a link between people with “foreign sounding names” and those in court under sex offences.
The segment was broadcast by GB news on November 10 and Ms Sabine has called on the regulator to formally investigate the claims made under Section 5.7 of the Ofcom broadcasting code which states: “Views and facts must not be misrepresented”.
In the show, Daubney and guest Marcus Johnstone presented “statistics” which claimed to show how people with “foreign-sounding names” were represented at a proportionally higher rate than those with “British surnames” in court – particularly in instances of sexual crime.
“These statistics have not been verified and are not methodologically sound,” Ms Sabine said.
“This bogus research was based on Johnstone choosing nine crown courts and counting the number of ‘foreign-sounding names’ on a given day.
“Both Daubney and Johnstone admitted that the methodology was flawed, yet still chose to broadcast these outrageous claim.”
GB News said it would not allow “politically-motivated complaints” to dictate its output.
Martin Daubney’s show said it analysed people with ‘foreign backgrounds’ – through their names. Picture: GB News
During the broadcast, Johnstone said: “We know that the analysis based on names is not scientific. We know there’s problems with that, but it’s the best that we can get at the moment because there’s no other data being obtained.”
However, the Somerset MP said it should not have been allowed to go on the air, adding: “Immigration and social integration are important and legitimate subjects for discussion. However, such debates must be grounded in verifiable data and handled with care to avoid misleading audiences or inflaming prejudice.
“It is deeply concerning that GB News chose to air unverified statistics that risk heightening tensions and fuelling hostility toward immigrant communities who contribute significantly to British society and our economy.”
Ms Sabine – the Lib Dem spokesperson for culture, media and sport – said the GB News figures were “unverified and frankly, racist” and demanded Ofcom hold the broadcaster to account.
“While we must support the independence of our media institutions, we hold great pride in this country in our rules around fair reporting and news based in facts and truth,” she added.
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“In a world of misinformation, it’s vital that our broadcasters and news programmes are held to a high standard of integrity and accuracy, whether that be the BBC or GB News, and that we insist upon truthfulness before any political angle.
“GB News peddled unverified and frankly racist statistics to thousands grounded in dodgy methods.
“Turning up to court and counting people with names that don’t sound British to you is no way to engage with the complex and sensitive topic of immigration.”
A GB News spokesperson said: “Unlike some other broadcasters, GB News takes its compliance seriously. We will never let politically motivated complaints by political parties shape our journalism.”
An Ofcom spokesperson said the watchdog was “assessing the complaints against our rules but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate”.
MP Anna Sabine’s letter to Ofcom:
would the mp like to use her powers to divilge the extent of the problem and release the facts to prove her case please or does she prefer to keep the real statistics to herself