TalkTV breached impartiality rules with allegations about cancelled local elections, Ofcom finds

"TalkTV, the online channel owned by Rupert Murdoch's news empire, breached impartiality rules in a show that repeatedly accused the government of cancelling local elections out of fear of Reform UK. The media regulator, Ofcom, issued the rare ruling in relation to a show hosted by Kevin O'Sullivan, in which he repeatedly said some local elections were being scrapped where ministers feared Nigel Farage's party would win. The programme featured similar accusations from the broadcaster's international editor, Isabel Oakeshott."

"Reform, quite rightly, fancied their chances and Labour knew that they were doomed, he said. Guess what? They've cancelled 13 of them. If there's one thing lefties hate, it's democracy. He later said: The ones where Reform UK were tipped to do particularly well, they're the ones that have gone. What a shame. Oakeshott said she was sure it is because of the rise of the Reform party, which today once again came the top of a new set of polls."

"On a handover to the next programme, the presenter Ash Gould described the government's proposal as Saddam Hussein, Putin sort of territory. Ofcom has ruled on very few breaches of impartiality rules in recent years, instead talking up free speech and saying broadcasters can be balanced across a series of programmes. However, the regulator concluded there had not been a proper reflection of the government's position on O'Sullivan's show."

Ofcom found that TalkTV breached impartiality rules after a Kevin O'Sullivan programme repeatedly accused the government of scrapping local elections to prevent Reform UK wins. The broadcast included similar claims from Isabel Oakeshott and a clip from Nigel Farage's YouTube channel. During a handover, presenter Ash Gould compared the government's proposal to 'Saddam Hussein, Putin sort of territory.' Ofcom concluded that the government's position was not properly reflected on the programme. Ministers said postponements related to local government reorganisation and cost concerns, while News UK argued the presenter had reflected the government position. Ofcom has rarely ruled on such breaches in recent years.

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