How GB News became the go-to channel for conspiracy theorists

The GB news started with a lot of enthusiasm, not least from the government, which was quick to allow interviews with Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak when he was Chancellor.

Many were in awe of the new channel, fearing it would undermine British news standards, but the Conservative Party seemed to have no doubts.

Nearly two years later, it is clear that GB News has indeed become a turning point in British media, although not quite as promised: its co-founder Andrew Neal has promised to provide a platform for “a huge range of voices”. that reflect the views and values ​​of our UK.” Instead, GB News has become a magnet for conspirators.

Many fantastic theories are discussed on the channel: the “mortal risk” of Covid-19 vaccines, the “myth” of the shortage of tomatoes, the “phantom threat” behind 15-minute cities, and the “doubtful honesty” of Vladimir Zelensky. . But all these issues boil down to a single ideology: The Illuminati, affiliated with the World Economic Forum (WEF), created climate change, a pandemic, and a war in Ukraine as a hoax to put people in fear.

Last week, media regulator Ofcom said GB News violated broadcasting guidelines after anchor Mark Stein made a “materially misleading” claim that Covid vaccines are associated with higher death rates. Ofcom, which said the channel is harming its viewers, is investigating comments by anti-vaccination writer Naomi Wolfe on another show hosted by Stein.

The conspiratorial tone continues. A recent guest on the Lawrence Fox GB News show linked the Pfizer Covid vaccine to miscarriages during pregnancy. Neil Oliver lashed out at “fear porn” in mainstream media coverage of the lockdown: “This is not news. This is not an investigation in search of the truth.”

As Zelensky gave his Westminster speech last month, GB News host Patrick Christies tweeted: “Why Zelensky Always wear military style?

His colleague Calvin Robinson, who worked for the far-right website Rebel News, wrote: “Zelensky doesn’t wear a suit or does he have to wear this tracksuit as part of his trade deal?”

Maria Romanenko, a Ukrainian refugee and journalist, wrote to GB News benefactor Paul Marshall, complaining that the criticism of Zelensky’s clothing coincided with a report about the Russian embassy. She compared some of the channel’s comments about Ukraine to those of the Kremlin-banned RT channel.

Part of the GB News audience does not seem to understand Ukraine’s predicament. When the broadcaster’s Twitter account showed Downing Street observing a minute of silence on the anniversary of the invasion, supporters called the ceremony “globalist propaganda”.

Parliament is not immune to conspiracy theories. Conservative supporter Andrew Bridgen lost his party whip in December after calling Covid vaccines “the greatest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”

Nick Fletcher, Conservative MP for Red Wall, called for a House of Commons debate on the “international socialist concept” of 15 Minute Cities promising traffic control zones with essential services in close proximity. The 15 Minute City is “dystopian,” says Mark Doyle, GB News anchor. For the conspirators, this idea is part of the WEF’s “Great Reset” plan to lock people into their homes.

There are government concerns. At the launch of the Edelman UK Trust Barometer this month, Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, said that “conspiracy paranoia” has infiltrated the mainstream broadcasters, saying “disturbing nonsense gains credibility when placed between trustworthy broadcasters.” is trapped.” .

She did not name GB News, but did list a list of “gems”, including a statement that the government is creating a food rationing app. Speaking to a British news program about the tomato shortage, Oliver explained: “My money says the rationing app for our smartphones is already on the hard drive somewhere.”

GB News, which recently reported a £30.7m annual loss, has a number of respected journalists and is instrumental in shaping conservative opinion. Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lee Anderson, Philip Davis and Esther McVeigh host a show on a channel that failed to live up to predictions of its demise with 2.8 million monthly ratings.

But links by some GB News anchors to the dark corners of the internet mean the channel is offering the conspirators a “discovery” in the mainstream media, BBC presenter Matthew Sweet claims.

He said: “What’s new is that a channel like GB News can have a presence in the regulated media of the unregulated and very extreme media that exists.”