There is not much that can be said about recent developments at GB News that has not already been said. The sacking of Laurence Fox and the baffling sacking of Calvin Robinson has angered and delighted in equal measure. Those of us who largely ignore the legacy media tend to be angry but amongst Guardian readers, BBC fans and the chattering classes generally, the popping of champagne corks must have sounded like the start of World War III.
Fox made some unguarded comments which, frankly, I thought were hilarious in context and were essentially returning in kind the comments made by the target of his ire, the female journalist who indicated that she found people of a conservative hue less than appealing. Even though I found Fox’s comments funny I cannot be alone in thinking he’d be unlikely to survive this outburst. It should be borne in mind that Fox apologised fully and frankly for his comments. He ignored the ‘never apologise’ dictum, possibly correctly on this occasion. But in keeping with the old dictum it did not mitigate in his favour in the eyes of his GB News bosses.
Despite its occasional lapses, I’ve been a fan of GB News from the start. It has frustrated on occasions. The departure of Mark Steyn was particularly disappointing and a great loss to the channel. However, they had agreed to be regulated by Ofcom and Steyn’s departure was related to their agreement with Ofcom. Steyn permitted a guest to make claims about the Covid-19 vaccines harms without presenting a balanced view. Strange, that considering the MSM is permitted to praise the Covid-19 vaccines from the rooftops without permitting a balanced view of the potential for harms.
Related to Fox and Robinson, while there was the predictable avalanche of complaints to Ofcom and the CEO said there were ‘real issues around misogyny’, there does not appear to have been a breach of their guidance. But GB News have sacked Fox anyway and followed it up with the unforgivable sacking of Robinson who did no more than offer his support—as have other GB News presenters—for his friend Fox. It seems that, while Fox is being sacked for comments made, Robinson is being sacked for having an opinion.
It is hard to conclude other than that the bosses of GB News are pandering to public opinion. The ‘whataboutery’ by his supporters is perfectly justified given what some BBC presenters such as Gary Lineker and former newsreader Emily Matlis got away with.
GB News is not perfect, but it is the best of a bad bunch available on mainstream television. The point is not really ‘what about?’ but ‘what if?’ and ‘what next?’. Dan Wootton, about whom I can understand neither his appeal nor his controversy, has sailed closed to the wind up to and including the Fox affair. He may well be next for the chop.
But it is their Saturday night anchor Neil Oliver about whom I worry most. UNN was quick to recognise his value in 2020 when it was clear he had the number of the SNP and again in 2021 when he was doing a weekly slot with Mike Graham on TalkRadio. Oliver has not flinched from calling it out as he sees it over lockdowns, Covid-19 vaccines, CBDCs and Ukraine. Miraculously, he survives possibly because he allows multiple views to be expressed on his show, but the hounds of the MSM and the Guardianista are surely baying for his blood.
It is hard to fathom exactly why GB News decided to axe Fox and Robinson. Possibly their funders issued unpublished pressure to come into line or their dwindling list of advertisers did the same. It is the tendency of rabbits caught in headlights to panic and to take some action, even if that action is to jump straight into the oncoming headlights.
GB News, by sacking two important and popular presenters have exposed themselves. It is the corporate action equivalent of an apology which, as we all know, does not work. If they do not reflect on what they have done and recognise their folly they are likely to get dismissal happy. Neil Oliver could be next, then Michelle Dewberry who also upsets a lot of people. In the search for inoffensive comment which will prevent adverse comments to Ofcom they are likely to keep sacking presenters until they are free of criticism. And that will be the day, like the rest of the MSM, they are no longer worth listening to.
Roger Watson is a retired academic nurse who lives in the UK.
He is currently engaged in a range of professional consultancies in the UK, Europe and China. He writes regularly for several outlets including The Daily Sceptic, The European Conservative, Country Squire Magazine and The New Conservative.
