Question Time: Andy Burnham discusses Prince Andrew
Last night’s panel in Leeds included GB News presenter Inaya Folarin Iman. She appeared alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Conservative MP Jake Berry, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady and industrialist Juergen Maier.
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Twitter users seemed confused at the frequency of which GB News presenters and journalists appear on Question Time.
In their view this was even more perplexing considering it is a new channel with relatively few viewers and pitched itself as an right-wing alternative to the BBC.
One Twitter user, @Soc_Sciences, wrote: “I see BBC Question Time have yet another GB News presenter on the panel tonight.
“Why does this new 'news' organisation get such regular spots on the BBCQT panel?”
Another user, Guy Ingerson, wrote: “Another GB News presenter on @bbcquestiontime, really?
“They have been on this platform more times than some political parties.
“They are an irrelevance. Why are the BBC intent on promoting them?”
Others argued that this was part of a trend with GB News presenter Nigel Farage having appeared on the programme more times than any other guest.
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Some also implied that Ms Iman only appeared because the former UKIP and Brexit party leader was unavailable.
One user, @clockworkshaun, wrote: “Farage was busy.”
Another, @announcer_stef, wrote: “Farage lent her his season ticket.”
Picking up the counter argument, one user, SomersetChrist, said: “How many BBC journalists go on GB News and give their opinions?”
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Another user, Mather Hulbert, said: “Why is there a GB News presenter on
@bbcquestiontime?!
“I don't pay my licence fee for that.”
However, other viewers hailed the BBC’s decision to invite opposing opinions.
One user, Peter Horne, said: “I think it’s excellent that QT have GB News presenters on the panel.”
According to the BBC’s editorial guidelines on impartiality, the Beeb is “committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output.
“This commitment is fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences.”
It adds: “We are committed to reflecting a wide range of subject matter and perspectives across our output as a whole and over an appropriate timeframe so that no significant strand of thought is under-represented or omitted.”