Ofcom investigates David Lammy's show over possible rule-breaking

David Lammy, Labor MP for Tottenham, has hosted a Sunday morning show on LBC since 2022. Photo: Maja Smajkowska/PA Wire

Ofcom announced that the radio program hosted by David Lammy was being investigated for possible breach of broadcasting rules.

Ofcom said it was investigating whether LBC's Good Friday program «broke our rules.» about politicians serving as news anchors.”

He received more than 50 complaints about an episode of the Shadow Foreign Secretary's weekly telephone program on March 29.

In the program, Mr Lammy announced on air the resignation of Sir Geoffrey Donaldson as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). ).

In a segment on complaints, he read a DUP statement that said Sir Geoffrey was facing “allegations of a historic nature” and that he would “resign with immediate effect in accordance with party rules.”

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Mr Lammy said: «The party office has suspended Mr Donaldson from membership pending the outcome of the trial.» He then told listeners that the DUP had appointed Gavin Robinson as its new leader, adding: “This is a big, big development.”

The watchdog said in a statement: “We have launched an investigation into David Lammy at LBC, who broadcast on March 29. We are investigating whether this program violated our policies regarding politicians serving as news anchors.»

Ofcom is not working yet. to provide further information

Mr Lammy, a Labor MP for Tottenham, has hosted the station's Sunday morning show since 2022. Ofcom has not yet provided any further details about the reasons for the investigation or the subject of the 51 complaints received. .

The Communications Service previously examined programs hosted by politicians on GB News.

Five programmes, including those hosted by Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg and shows co-presented by Conservative minister Esther McVey and Conservative MP Philip Davies, were found to be in breach of Ofcom's impartiality rules.

p>The watchdog's rules on due impartiality state: “No politician may be used as an announcer, interviewer or reporter on any news program unless it is editorially justifiable. In this case, the person's political allegiance must be clearly communicated to the audience.»

In announcing its findings to GB News, Ofcom said that if a channel uses a politician as a presenter «in a program containing both news, and current events, he must ensure that they do not act as a news reader, interviewer or news reporter on this program.»

The broadcaster was «warned» that it may be subject to sanctions if he commits any further offences.

The watchdog also issued a warning to TalkTV on Monday after presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer made “potentially highly offensive comments” during an interview with the general secretary. Palestinian National Initiative.

Ofcom said it had given the channel «strong advice» on the «need to pay greater attention to ensuring that potentially highly offensive comments are justified by context» but decided not to launch an investigation.

Lammy and Hartley-Brewer have been approached for comment.