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TELL OFCOM: Stop allowing this climate denial and disinformation

Watch: Yet another guest on GB News’ Headliners made inaccurate claims about climate change — all of which were not challenged by the host or other guests. 

Read our complaint on GB News

On 16 June 2024, Lewis Schaffer on GB News’ Headliners show made inaccurate and highly contestable claims about climate change which were not challenged by the host or other guests — therefore violating Ofcom rules 5.1 and 5.7, which require due impartiality and views being given due weight over appropriate timeframes

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

Programme details:

Programme title: Headliners
Date of broadcast: 16 June 2024
Time of broadcast (24 hour clock): 23:07
Channel / station*: GB News

Your complaint:

Subject: GB News’ Headliners breached Ofcom rule 5.1 and 5.7 by giving voice to more misinformation about climate science, with no weight given to voices arguing for the existence of human-made climate change.

Description:

Here’s a few bullet points to include:

  • On 16 June 2024, Lewis Schaffer on GB News’ Headliners show made inaccurate and highly contestable claims about climate change which were not challenged by the host or other guests — therefore violating Ofcom rules 5.1 and 5.7. Schaffer’s comment echoed his similar climate denial from two days prior, as well as the week before.
  • Schaffer claimed, “the truth is climate change is not a real thing” and that “we’ve been lied to” about climate change. He also refers to “Net Zero of the climate change thing” as “bull” [bullshit]. Schaffer also engaged in COVID-19 denial, labelling it “this COVID lie scam thing”.
  • These claims are in violation of Ofcom rules 5.1 and 5.7, requiring “due accuracy” and the avoidance of misrepresenting facts. Climate change and COVID-19 are both scientific realities. Schaffer does not even attempt to prove his claims by citing any sources.
  • Schaffer’s views left unchallenged, violating Ofcom rule requirements around “impartiality” and giving “due weight” to opposing views. Far from challenging Schaffer’s claims, the host instead asked: “Lewis, do you think the argument for climate change doesn’t really work in the UK because this is a terminally cold and rainy nation? I mean I just saw it in scientific experts apparently saying we had the hottest May on record. Have they been outside?”. At best, this comment casts further doubt on the credibility of climate scientists, while doing nothing to counter or balance Schaffer’s position.
Deadline for complaints: July 12, 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.