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TELL OFCOM: GB News are misrepresenting the public’s support for green policies

Watch: GB News hosts undermine YouGov polling showing support for green energy and cast doubt on climate science.

Read our complaint against GB News

On 21 August 2024, GB News hosts Bev Turner and Dawn Neesom unfounded and damaging claims about YouGov polling showing support for green energy, while Turner also challenged the scientific consensus about the harms of carbon emissions on the planet.

The hosts violated Ofcom rules 2.2 and 5.7, which require accuracy and impartiality in coverage.

Submit your complaint to Ofcom using this form and by following the guidance below. 

Programme details:

Programme title: Britain’s Newsroom
Date of broadcast: 21 August 2024
Time of broadcast (24 hour clock): 10:09
Channel / station: GB News

Your complaint:

Subject: GB News hosts shared climate denial about the impact of carbon emissions on the climate and platformed misleading claims about YouGov polling on climate issues. This violated Ofcom rules 2.2 and 5.7, which cover accuracy and impartiality.

Description:

Here’s a few bullet points to include:

  • On 21st August, GB News hosts Bev Turner and Dawn Neesom discussed a recent poll from YouGov showing public support for green energy policies. Turner read out a message from a viewer alleging that the poll is “flawed”, calling green energy “ridiculous” and “not environmentally friendly”. Turner expressed thanks to the viewer for this comment and then cast doubt herself that the science is “settled” that “carbon is killing the planet”. This is a rejection of the scientific consensus on the harmful impact of carbon emissions on the planet. Turner has made similar comments casting doubt on climate science before on GB News.
  • Neesom also cast doubt on the YouGov polling, claiming that “people don’t really understand what they’re being asked” and reading out another message from a viewer alleging that Labour are “over-egging the pudding to suit their stance”. This is not challenged by the hosts, who instead appear to agree with the sentiment.
  • The unscientific climate denial from Turner and Neesom’s casting of doubt on a poll supporting green policies both amount to violations of Ofcom rule 2.2 and 5.7. These require due accuracy, due impartiality and that “portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience”. The uncritical platforming of spurious allegations from viewers amount to similar violations of due accuracy and due impartiality.
Deadline for complaints: September 18, 2024 11:59 pm

Submitting a complaint to Ofcom should take you less than 10 minutes and is completed via a form on their website.

Go straight to OFCOM
Read our guide

Submitting a complaint to Ofcom should take you less than 10 minutes and is completed via a form on their website.

  • Ofcom is the UK’s public regulator for communications services. Among other responsibilities, their job is to ensure that TV channels uphold the Broadcasting Code. This code requires broadcasters to protect the public from harmful and offensive material, avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals and organisations, and report the news with due accuracy and impartiality.
  • Ofcom has real power to yield. Sanctions they can issue include directions not to repeat content, fines — and crucially, the power to suspend or revoke a TV channel’s licence to broadcast.
  • Ofcom must carefully consider every single complaint to see if their rules have been broken. If the complaint is strong, Ofcom will launch a formal investigation process.
  • Ofcom will not reply to each specific complaint but instead publishes records of the complaints received, investigations underway and breaches on their website, every fortnight.
  • Complaints must be about a specific breach of the code and submitted within 20 days of the program going to air.