GB News insiders back Anderson

Lee Anderson is set to remain a prominent figure on GB News, according to insiders, as Ofcom weighs up whether his inflammatory claim that “Islamists” have “got control over London” merits a new investigation into the channel.

GB News sources said bosses will stand by the former Conservative deputy chairman, whose remarks have prompted a row over Islamophobia within the party.

Ofcom could launch a fresh investigation into the broadcaster, which is facing 13 probes over impartiality and fairness issues.

Mr Anderson’s remarks, made on GB News last week, have been a publicity boost for the channel, which capitalised on the story by releasing an exclusive statement from its presenter, in which he refused to apologise.

“Lee’s role is to stir things up,” a GB News insider said. “He had the licence to say things to right-wing viewers that [Rishi] Sunak can’t. But he wouldn’t have intended to go as far as to lose the whip.”

They also highlighted that the channel’s reporting of the Anderson story was giving due weight to criticism of its presenter from the Mayor of London and Conservative ministers.

Another GB News source said: “We expect Lee to return to the airwaves this week.”

Ofcom said that if it receives 50 or more complaints about the interview, the figure will be recorded in a midweek complaints update.

“As always, any complaints we’ve received will be assessed against our rules before we decide whether or not to investigate,” said a spokesperson for the watchdog.

Mr Anderson is paid £100,000 a year by GB News for his own show Lee Anderson’s Real World every Friday, and for commentating at other times, with his opinions reaching an online audience far wider than the TV channel’s modest viewership.

His comments – accusing Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of being controlled by “Islamists” and giving away the capital to his “mates” – were made as he appeared on air with presenter Martin Daubney on Friday.

The MP for Ashfield was suspended from the Tory parliamentary party over the weekend, with Sunak later saying he was deprived of the Tory whip because his “choice of words wasn’t acceptable, it was wrong”.

The Prime Minister has stopped short of calling Mr Anderson’s comments Islamophobic.

Over the weekend, Sayeeda Warsi, who was the first Muslim woman to serve in the Cabinet, said she believed “a new generation of Conservatives [are] dragging this great party… into the gutter” with “anti-Muslim racism being used as an electoral campaign tool”.

In his statement, released to GB News political editor Christopher Hope, Mr Anderson admitted his original remarks were “clumsy”, but said saying sorry “would be a sign of weakness”.

He added: “My words may have been clumsy but my words were borne out of [sic] sheer frustration at what is happening to our beautiful capital city.”

Mr Anderson is due to present Real World on Friday night and may give additional on-camera interviews to the channel before then.

His comments, branded “Islamophobic” by Mr Khan, are likely to prompt fresh scrutiny by Ofcom and could breach broadcasting rules prohibiting hate speech.

GB News could also come under fire for failing to challenge Mr Anderson’s assertion during his interview.

Ofcom is under pressure to crack down on TV channels allowing working politicians, such as Mr Anderson’s GB News colleague Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, to present news programmes.

Mr Anderson’s on-air appearances will be curtailed at the general election, however, when the now-independent MP defends his 5,733 majority. GB News said it would abide by broadcasting rules that prevent candidates from presenting shows during the election period.

The channel declined to comment on Mr Anderson’s position as a presenter. A spokesman previously said: “GB News chose to be regulated by Ofcom and takes its compliance obligations seriously.”