Welsh parliament members have hit out at GB News’ censorship in the Senedd, but no representatives from Labour or Plaid Cymru opted to “front up” to the decision.
GB News Senior Producer Ben Leo travelled to Cardiff to gauge the reaction of elected representatives after The People’s Channel was removed from the Welsh Parliament’s internal TV system.
A spokesperson for Presiding Office Elin Jones said a “deliberately offensive” recent broadcast was enough to see its removal.
The Senedd's statement is understood to be referring to an incident on the channel last month, in which former GB News presenter Laurence Fox made a series of remarks about political journalist Ava Evans on Tuesday evening which GB News has described as “totally unacceptable”.
Welsh Parliament members are frustrated over GB News's censorship
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GB News apologised to Evans and Fox has since departed the channel after an internal investigation.
Jenny Rathbone, a Welsh Labour politician, heralded the banning on social media, stating: “Pleased to report that the toxic GB News is no longer broadcast on @SeneddWales internal channels.”
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She added: “No place in democratic discourse for Laurence Fox’s unbridled misogyny or echo chambers of misinformation with no fact-checking. Good journalism is essential in challenging times.”
Among those speaking to GB News’ Ben Leo was Natasha Asghar, who said the decision was “very shifty”.
She said: “From my perspective, we live in 2023, we live in the modern world, we’re entitled to different opinions.
“I don’t understand why on Earth GB News has been pulled from our televisions here, it’s something that could be deemed very shifty.”
GB News will no longer be shown on the Senedd's internal TVsPAConcurring with the sentiment was fellow Conservative MS James Evans, who said the decision should have been explained to the chamber.
He also questioned whether the BBC will be banned for failing to label Hamas terrorists, adding it is “victimisation of one news channel”.
Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies told Leo the decision is “outrageous”, adding Plaid Cymru and Labour politicians who backed the move are not willing to “front up” to GB News about the matter.
“What does it say about the Welsh Parliament?”, he asked.
“They can’t defend their position, you don’t front up when you can’t defend it.
“It is undemocratic, it is censorship, we will be pushing for the reinstatement of GB News.
“What I will say to your viewers is, keep watching GB News, keep making a difference, and keep making your voices heard.”
Plaid Cymru spokesperson for broadcasting Heledd Fychan told the BBC that her party fully supports the decision.
Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Elin Jones, said: "GB News has been removed from the Senedd's internal television system following a recent broadcast that was deliberately offensive, demeaning to public debate and contrary to our parliament's values.
"There are now several ongoing Ofcom investigations into the channel.
"The commission will discuss the issue at a future meeting, and staff and members who wish to view GB News will still be able to do so online in the Senedd."
