Laurence Fox – latest: GB News suspends presenter Calvin Robinson as Ava Evans issues new response

The shadow culture secretary has questioned why ask why a national broadcaster would want to keep Laurence Fox on air.

Thangam Debbonaire tweeted that “woman-hating on air has hit a new low”, asking: “Should we have to tell a broadcaster that on-air woman-hate is not OK? It’s tiring and it takes us away from what we do. Men need to step up.

“When other men do this woman-hate on air/anywhere they’re doing it to your sisters, mothers, friends, colleagues We don’t need you to speak FOR us or over us. We need you to act! Today notice when we get silenced & make time & effort to amplify the voices of women.”

Around 7,300 complaints were made to Ofcom about Tuesday’s episode of Dan Wootton Tonight on GB News, the broadcasting regulator says.

Ofcom has now launched an investigation into the programme.

The regulator said it was investigating under rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code, which states when “applying generally accepted standards, broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context”.

Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom chief executive, said: “Over the last few days there has been speculation and commentary about our role as the independent broadcast regulator. These are important issues and I wanted to be clear about our rules.

“Parliament sets objectives on how the broadcast sector should be regulated. We set and enforce rules to achieve these objectives. Contrary to some claims, these rules remain unchanged.

“They are designed to protect audiences from offensive and harmful material, and to uphold the integrity of broadcast news and current affairs programming, while always ensuring that freedom of expression is front and centre in every decision we take. This is highly valued by audiences and central to our democracy.

“The decisions we take, always based on facts and evidence once a programme has aired, are vital if we are to protect our vibrant media landscape. We continue to apply and enforce these rules without fear or favour.”

GB News host Nick Dixon apparently went unchallenged when he talked of “slightly fancying” a woman he “hated” in a resurfaced audio.

During an episode last month of his podcast, Dixon openly said she reminded him of the “narcissistic but quite attractive” women he said he was drawn to.

Talk TV’s Rosanna Lockwood, the subject of Dixon’s comments, highlighted what he said, adding: “Critique me and my work all you like - that’s part of the deal. But don’t appraise me like I’m some sort of dating prospect, just because I’m a woman.

“Stop embarrassing yourself. Imagine any other industry in which people would broadcast comments about their peers like this.”

Suspended GB News commentator Laurence Fox says he plans to release a filmed statement at 7pm today on social media.

Earlier, he Fox, tweeted: “Just so we are clear. I would rather scrub toilets for the rest of my days and retain my dignity. Than shill for cash and opportunity, only to compromise absolutely everything which really matters in life.”

He has already said he is expecting to be dropped by GB News.

Tory chairman Lee Anderson will interview home secretary Suella Braverman on GB News, just a week after the right-wing news channel was sanctioned over impartiality:

Rishi Sunak has backed Tory MP Lee Anderson as doing a “fantastic job” for his constituents, despite facing criticism for having a £100,000 second job as a GB News presenter:

The preponderance of serving and former right-wing politicians on the channel should itself disqualify them from holding a broadcasting licence, writes Sean O’Grady:

GB News commentator Laurence Fox has admitted he expects his bosses to sack him and Dan Wootton tomorrow – after more than 48 hours of public outrage over his offensive and sexist tirade in a live broadcast.

In a rambling 15-minute video in which he tried to defend his misogyny, the right-wing former actor said: “I know I’m going to get sacked tomorrow. I’m saying this stuff to clear my own conscience.”

He admitted his language had been “cack-handed” but said he stood by the sentiment he had expressed in his rant, which led to his and Wootton’s being suspended from the channel.

And Fox had a swipe at GB News for allegedly “opening themselves up to the cancellation mob”.

Fox issued an apology to journalist Ava Evans for “demeaning” her – but also played for sympathy by saying his words had demeaned him, too.

In a video on social media trying to justify his mysogyny, he said: “If I was going to be sensible and I could replay it, I would say: ‘Any self-respecting man in 2023 would probably be well advised to avoid a woman who possessed that world view because she would probably cause him nothing but harm’.

“But what I did say was, you know, ‘I wouldn’t shag that’, and all that sort of stuff, which is not right. It’s demeaning to her, to Ava, so I’m sorry for demeaning you in that way.

“However angry I am with you still for doing that, and it demeans me because it’s not representative of who I am.”

He described what he’d done as “banterish”.

Right-wing commentator Laurence Fox has admitted he expects GB News bosses to sack him and Dan Wootton tomorrow – after more than 48 hours of public uproar over his offensive, sexist comments to a female journalist.

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