Ofcom updates guidance on politicians presenting news
October 20, 2025
Ofcom has issued new guidance to broadcasters about politicians presenting news, following its consultation on this issue.
The media regulator says the guidance, which comes into force immediately, reflects the modern news landscape and sets guardrails for broadcasters who use politicians as presenters in programmes that include news.
Specifically, the revised guidance explains the interaction between Ofcom’s due accuracy and due impartiality in news rule (5.1 under the Broadcasting Code), and the rule which prevents politicians from presenting news programmes (5.3). It also updates the definition of ‘politician’ to provide greater clarity.
The approach takes into account the responses to its consultation and reflects recent guidance from the High Court on this matter in a case brought by GB News. Ofcom says it considers it provides “the right protection for audiences while safeguarding rights to freedom of expression, and reflects the higher standards enshrined in law for news content”.
Exploring the debate
Access to duly accurate and duly impartial news on television and radio is fundamental to a democratic society. As such, broadcast news is afforded a higher level of protection under UK law compared to non-news content.
The news landscape has evolved in recent years. The distinction between news and current affairs content has become more blurred for audiences, and while politicians presenting current affairs programmes isn’t new, it has become a more established editorial practice.
To ensure its broadcasting rules keep pace with these changes, and following the High Court judgment earlier this year, Ofcom launched a consultation on the issue of politicians as presenters of news. This process has allowed the regulator to explore the debate around this practice and to understand fully the views of a wide range of broadcasters, audiences, academics and other stakeholders.
Responses to the consultation were said to be “polarised”, reflecting the broad range of views overall, and there was a high level of consensus amongst broadcasters in favour of retaining the wording of Rule 5.3. Many respondents were concerned that amending Rule 5.3 would introduce significant practical challenges and operational uncertainty for broadcasters, and that it would inadvertently result in a de facto ban on politicians presenting any kind of programmes.
Decision in detail
The wording of Rule 5.3 will remain unchanged. Instead, Ofcom has decided that there is sufficient protection for audiences through the existing combination of Rules 5.1 and 5.3, but has issued amended Guidance to make the relationship between them clearer, and more relevant to the modern news landscape. Specifically, Ofcom has decided to:
- update Guidance to Rule 5.1, which states that news, in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
The amendments make explicit that if an MP presented news in a non-news programme, then their status as an MP would likely be a relevant factor in considering whether that news was presented with due impartiality. Ofcom explained that we would also take into account all other relevant factors – including, for example, the nature and subject of the news in question and the MP’s political position on that issue. The new guidance also signposts that where politicians present news in news programmes, Rule 5.3 applies.
- updated Guidance to Rule 5.3, which states that no politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in any news programmes unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified. In that case, the political allegiance of that person must be made clear to the audience.
The amended guidance offers further clarification on the meaning of “exceptional circumstances” – defined as those which cannot be controlled or foreseen by the broadcaster. Ofcom also makes clear that it would expect such situations to be rare, and for licensees who use politicians as presenters to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to avoid these situations.
- updated the definition of “politician”
The new definition now includes a reference to “members of the House of Lords” and “representatives” of political parties, while the reference to “activists” has been removed.
Politicians as presenters in non-news programmes, including current affairs programmes
There is no Ofcom rule that prevents a politician from presenting or appearing on a TV or radio programme – providing they aren’t standing in an election taking place, or about to take place, and that the programme otherwise complies with the Broadcasting Code.
Some respondents wanted Ofcom to extend its rules to prevent politicians from presenting non-news, including current affairs programmes, but this falls outside the scope of Ofcom’s consultation.
The Broadcasting Code contains rules requiring broadcasters to preserve due impartiality on matters – and major matters – of political or industrial controversy and current public policy. These rules apply to any programme which covers such issues and topics including current affairs programmes presented by politicians. If a programme raises issues under these rules, Ofcom says it will not hesitate to investigate and take appropriate enforcement action.
Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Group Director for Broadcasting, commented: “We’ve listened carefully to the perspectives of audiences, broadcasters and other experts through our consultation. Our updated guidance provides the right protection for audiences, while also safeguarding freedom of expression and broadcasters’ editorial discretion to choose their presenting line up.”
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