Welsh Parliament: GB News removed from Senedd televisions

GB News cameraGetty Images

GB News was launched in the summer of 2021

By Mark Palmer
BBC Wales Politics

The GB News television channel has been removed from the internal TV system in the Welsh Parliament.

A spokesperson for Presiding Officer Elin Jones said the decision was taken following a recent broadcast which was "deliberately offensive".

They said Senedd members and staff could watch GB News online. Tory Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies called it "censorship" and GB News presenter Nigel Farage called it "totalitarian".

GB News was asked to comment.

Ms Jones' spokesperson was referring to comments by Laurence Fox about female journalist Ava Evans, in which he asked what "self-respecting man" would "climb into bed" with Ava Evans.

Although the decision was taken by the Senedd, rather than Mark Drakeford's government, former Brexit Party leader Mr Farage hit out at Labour, saying: "This shows just how awful the Welsh Labour administration is.

"They are totalitarian in their thinking and behaviour," he said. "Is this what lies in store for the whole of the UK under (Sir Keir) Starmer?"

Mr Fox was later sacked by GB News after an outcry about comments he made on air about a female journalist.

Responding directly to Mr Davies on X, formerly Twitter, before quoting what Mr Fox said, Ms Jones asked: "Do you seriously support a channel that allows a woman to be talked about unchallenged as below to continue to be broadcast on our Senedd internal system?"

Laurence Fox made the comments while appearing as a contributor on Dan Wootton's show.

Mr Wootton remains suspended and apologised "unreservedly" for "a very unfortunate lapse in judgement on my part under the intense pressure of a bizarre exchange".

'Demeaning'

Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Ms Jones, said: "GB News has been removed from the Senedd's internal television system following a recent broadcast that was deliberately offensive, demeaning to public debate and contrary to our parliament's values.

"There are now several ongoing Ofcom investigations into the channel.

"The commission will discuss the issue at a future meeting, and staff and members who wish to view GB News will still be able to do so online in the Senedd."

The commission is the cross-party body in charge of the day-to-day running of the Welsh Parliament.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for broadcasting Heledd Fychan said her party fully supports the decision.

"There is no place in the Senedd for a platform that includes content that normalises treating women as objects," she said.

The broadcasting watchdog Ofcom now has more than 10 current investigations into GB News.

This story has been updated to clarify that it is the Senedd's decision and not Welsh Labour's to remove GB News from the Senedd's TV system.

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