In a piece for Spiked, Professor Andrew Tettenborn discusses how the controversies surrounding GB News serve as a prime example of Ofcom’s increasing overreach. Here’s an excerpt:
Set up as a super-ministry by Tony Blair in 2003, Ofcom assumed responsibility for two areas: boringly technical matters, such as allocating radio frequencies; and dealing with complaints about material appearing on radio and TV, which includes ensuring that all news is presented with ‘due impartiality’ and that all programming avoids ‘harmful and / or offensive material’. Ofcom has performed this latter function with increasing zeal. It intervened, for example, in 2020 to make sure no one strayed too far from the accepted line on Covid. And a year earlier it penalised broadcaster James Whale for expressing views on air that were entirely lawful, but nevertheless seen as insensitive, when discussing a case of sexual assault.
More recently, GB News has rarely been out of Ofcom’s sights. A couple of weeks ago, it was rapped over the knuckles for breaching impartiality rules, after two Tory MPs interviewed the Tory chancellor in March about Government splits on economic policy. There are five more impartiality investigations in the pipeline, including one into Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg being allowed to present a current-affairs programme and another into the station’s ‘Don’t Kill Cash’ campaign.
This hyperactive interventionism should worry us. For one thing, it gives complainants with an axe to grind far too much power. For a broadcaster to answer a complaint, even an unjustified one, takes money and a great deal of time. And any station knows that close co-operation with Ofcom, from whom its licence comes, is a commercial necessity. …
At present, Ofcom is riding high. Under the Online Safety Bill, now assured of passage into law, it is also set to take over looking after large swathes of the internet (itself a frightening prospect). This is entirely the wrong direction of travel.
Worth reading in full.
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a move described by a trade union as “Victorian”
This is an interesting use of the word “Victorian”. Presumably it means ridiculously old-fashioned. Now, if I remember my history correctly, the Victorians also used to pay people if they turned up for work. Therefore, being paid for turning up for work must also be “Victorian” – i.e. ridiculously old-fashioned. Therefore, those who don’t turn up for work shouldn’t expect to get paid. Otherwise they’re being ridiculously old-fashioned (and we can’t have that).
My grandfather, who admittedly was an Edwardian rather than a Victorian, but I doubt things had changed much, used to work five days plus Saturday mornings.
Let’s see the shrivelled serpents do that.
Time to hand out the P45s!
Who is going to be in the office to do the handing out?
Presumably because they currently do next to f***-all.
Where’s Ronnie’s heir when we most need them? Just call their bluff and get shot of the shirkers:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/5/reagans-firing-of-striking-air-traffic-controllers/
Lazy offspring of unmarried mothers.
that’s a little harsh, lazy would do.
First it was Land Registry. I wonder which mob will be next?
Their work must be largely straightforward. Sack the lot and recruit a new bunch from the private sector. Just like Reagan with air traffic controllers.
If ALL Civil Servants went on strike at once, would anyone notice?
A few inconveniences maybe, but no tax collection!
Sounds like the Land Registry is overstaffed by at least 4000 people.
The Land Registry is already closed for the public to call on Fridays.
My GP also finishes for the week at 1.00pm on Fridays.
Let them strike and let their Unions pay them instead.
“We believe this action will cause minimal impact to our services…”
…Minimal impact on a service that, for the last Land Registry transaction I was involved in, took two years to turn round.
Cited reason, backlog due to The Pandemic (That Never Was, that kicked off Skiving from Home).
They took just over a year to register the change of ownership when we moved in March 2023. My solicitor said it was normal for transactions to take about a year.
And yet the Registry claim that 70% are processed within 3 months.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-processing-times
Frankly I believe the solicitor.
Drain the swamp, to coin a phrase.
Please, please, please let all civil servants go on strike indefinitely – they produce no wealth and consume much.
On strike, no pay, save money… fill that £22 billion black hole.
Time for a massive fight with the work shy, lazy, w**k from home, over paid, over pensioned, low achieving, always moaning public sector that rips off Britain daily. The Public Sector needs a 50% cull. The rest can join the real workforce in the private sector.
With unemployment about to rise thanks to Rachel there should be a good supply of replacements hired on contracts that stipulate working in the office everyday and no joining the union.
I think we should let them all work from home. If you can do your job from home then we can replace you with someone in India. Saves us a fortune and we don’t ave to put up with these winging lazy people. At least Indians appear to have a stronger work ethic.
Time for a game of musical chairs. Any one who isn’t at their desk at least three days a week loses their chair ….and their job.
“A HM Land Registry spokesman said: “We believe this action will cause minimal impact to our services. We will continue to closely monitor any effects the action may have and respond as needed to maintain essential services that support the property market, such as searches, registrations – including expedites – and customer contact, as we did during previous periods of full industrial action.”
If they can strike with “minimal impact” why strike?
If they can strike with “minimal impact” they must be overstaffed and unproductive when not on strike.
I just transferred a property to my wife and having completed the paperwork the solicitor told me the deed would be completed in January 2026
That’s right, about a year. Despite the Land Registry claiming otherwise.
The Land Registry backlog is huge. I wonder why?