TELL OFCOM: Net Zero is not madness
Watch: GB News guest makes irresponsible claims that Net Zero is “madness” which will cause “unemployment, poverty, ill health and cold”, with GB News host Darren Grimes implying that the Energy Secretary is “mad”.
On 13 July 2024, a regular contributor for GB News made unfair and unbalanced claims about Net Zero, and the host Darren Grimes made derogatory comments about Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in a discussion about the halting of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
The lack of balance and presence of unproven claims about public policy is a violation of rules 5.1, 5.5, and 5.7 requiring “due accuracy” and the accurate representation of facts. The mocking of Ed Miliband and implication that he is “mad” is a violation of rule 7.1 requiring just and fair treatment of individuals. Submit your complaint to Ofcom using this form and following the guidance below.
Programme details:
Programme title: The Saturday Five
Date of broadcast: 13 July 2024
Time of broadcast (24 hour clock): 18:37
Channel / station*: GB News
Your complaint:
Subject: A guest on The Saturday Five describes Net Zero as “madness” that will “plunge people into unemployment” and “poverty”, while the host implies that the Energy Secretary is “mad”. These statements violate rules 5.1, 5.5, 5.7, and 7.1 of the Ofcom code.
Description:
Here are a few bullet points to include:
- On 13th July, The Saturday Five show featured a series of unfair and unbalanced claims about Net Zero and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in a discussion about the halting of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
- Dr Renee Hoenderkamp, a regular guest, claimed that the Energy Secretary is “running towards the Net Zero madness” and described the country as “hurtl[ing] towards the ground” as “we’re going to plunge people into unemployment, poverty, ill health and cold. And Ed [Miliband] just thinks it’s the right thing to do”. The host Darren Grimes agreed with Hoenderkamp’s claims, before comparing Ed Miliband to Wallace from Wallace and Gromit; an established trope used to mock his appearance. Grimes then read out a letter from a viewer describing Miliband as “stark-raving mad” and an “idiot” and shortly after, in a comparison between Miliband and former Conservative Party leader William Hague, implied that Miliband is “mad”.
- The general lack of balance is a violation of rule 5.1 requiring “due impartiality”, while also violating rule 5.5 relating to “due impartiality” in segments relating to “current public policy”. The claim that Net Zero will cause unemployment, poverty, ill health and cold was not proven or challenged, thereby violating rules 5.1 and 5.7 requiring “due accuracy” and the accurate representation of facts. The mocking of Ed Miliband and the implication that he is “mad” is a violation of rule 7.1 requiring just and fair treatment of individuals.