Andrew Neal: Politicians Shouldn't Be Allowed to Host TV Shows

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg on Nigel Farage's UK news release Photo: Stéphane Russo

Politicians should not be allowed According to Andrew Neil, former chairman channel, political news programs are presented in the same way as on GB News.

Ofcom is investigating GB News programs run by conservative politicians after receiving a number of complaints.

< p>One of them was hosted by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and the other MPs Esther McVeigh and Philip Davies.

Neal, who stepped down as chairman and main anchor shortly after its launch due to political leanings, said: “I find this incredible. As a country, we are full of good broadcasters. We don't need politicians to take our jobs, especially since they're not very good at it either.

“I am very surprised that he went down this path. I don't think it works. Sometimes I find it embarrassing

«They all also seem to be conservative, which I find a bit dismissive.»

Ofcom is assessing whether the April edition of Saturday Morning with Esther and Philip broke the rules impartiality when MPs interviewed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Neil told Roger Bolton on the Beeb Watch podcast: «A sitting Conservative politician is interviewing a Conservative government minister. I'm really surprised. I was surprised how tolerant Ofcom is about this kind of thing.

“Of course, when I was trying to put together GB News, it never occurred to me that Ofcom would allow this kind of thing. happen. In fact, I've always considered Ofcom to be something of an ally and kept us in the proper mainstream.

«I'm just surprised that Ofcom is letting the channel get away with it.»

He added: «I don't think incumbent politicians should be allowed to present political programs unless all major parties also provide presenters.»

«I just don't think that's the right thing to do. Politicians are politicians, and journalists are journalists. We have to keep knitting ourselves.”

Neal said, “Leave the rules aside—what's the point? The goal of any program is to hold politicians accountable. How can you do that when politicians present programs?

“It's almost the world of Shangri-La. I certainly never expected this.”

Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes wrote in the Telegraph earlier this week that the appearance of politicians as speakers “has generated heated debate.”

But she pointed out that there was no rule preventing the current politician from hosting a current affairs show.

Neal also said that BBC News was in trouble. «I think the BBC just doesn't have the money anymore to do these things and it's not going to get paid, so I'm afraid it's in a long-term decline,» he said.