Ofcom launches GB News probe over ‘Don’t Kill Cash’ campaign

Ofcom has opened an investigation into GB News over its “Don’t Kill Cash” campaign which urges viewers to sign a petition and have an issue debated in Parliament.

The UK’s broadcasting regulator will investigate whether the channel has breached Rule 5.4 of the Broadcasting Code, which requires all broadcasters to ensure that their programmes exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service on matters of political and industrial controversy or current public policy.

The channel launched the campaign on 3 July and has aired several segments in which presenters and editorial staff complain about the UK’s apparent transformation in to a “cashless society”. The campaign’s goal is to “protect [physical] currency until at least 2050” and get a petition signed by over 100,000 people and have the issue debated in Parliament. Petitions which are hosted on the Parliamentary website and reach 100,000 signatures are considered for debate by the House of Commons.

While UK newspapers often run campaigns and back political parties, UK broadcasters are prohibited from doing so under the terms of their Ofcom licence.

GB News revealed that its petition had reached 100,000 signatures on Wednesday and yesterday the total was over 134,000.

Editor’s note (10 July): GB News did not respond to a request for comment.