The UK’s media regulator will take no action against GB News despite finding the channel breached the broadcasting code by using a homophobic slur.

Ofcom concluded the right-wing television channel had breached its Broadcasting Code in January, when presenter Josh Howie compared LGBTQ+ people to child abusers.

During an episode of the opinion show Headliners, the host referred to a quote from Episcopalian bishop Mariann Budde, who had urged US president Donald Trump to “show mercy” to queer people. Howie added: “I just want to say that that includes paedos.”

The remark prompted more than 71,500 complaints to the regulator.

Following a six-month investigation, Ofcom decided on Monday (6 October) that Howie’s comment “clearly had the potential to cause a high degree of offence” by “appearing to conflate or associate some sexualities and/or gender identities with paedophilia, particularly given how well-established this is as a prejudicial trope against homosexual people”, and GB News had breached Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code.

“Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services… so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material,” the rule states.

However, Ofcom decided not to impose any sanction on the right-wing broadcaster, ruling that an on-air apology issued by Howie in February, where he claimed his comments were a joke and that he wasn’t trying to compare “LGB people” to paedophilia, was sufficient to resolve the matter.

During his statement, Howie said “LGB” rather than “LGBTQ+,” which he used in the original remark, seemingly omitting trans people from the apology. Ofcom said it “considered this action was adequate” and that “the matter is resolved.”

“Ofcom must impose sanctions”

Matthew Gill, a defamation lawyer at the Good Law Project, which headed the complaint campaign against GB News, said: “It’s good that Ofcom has finally decided that this dangerous slur should never have [been] put on air but we need the regulator to hold GB News and its hate-filled broadcasts to account.

“Toxic programming must face real consequences. Ofcom must impose sanctions.”

Last year, GB News was fined £100,000 (approximately $134,000) for breaching impartiality rules after airing a programme featuring the prime minister Rishi Sunak, which Ofcom ruled did not present “an appropriately wide range of significant viewpoints”.

The media watchdog ruled a fine of this sum was imposed because of “the seriousness and repeated nature of this breach” of the broadcasting code. GB News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos labelled the decision “a direct attack on free speech and journalism in the United Kingdom”.

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