Andrew RT Davies reignites Senedd GB News ban row
Andrew RT Davies will be featured on the television network GB News.
The top-ranking member of the Conservative party in Wales has brought back a controversial issue regarding the exclusion of GB News from the Senedd, even though the channel can still be accessed by all Senedd Members and their employees.
In a recent social media message on Monday (July 29), Andrew RT Davies stated that the Senedd had "permanently prohibited" the channel and criticized the Welsh Parliament for "censoring" it.
In a recent blog post on X, he declared that the Senedd has officially put a permanent ban on @gbnews.
It is concerning for a supposedly democratic organization to partake in censorship like this.
"The reputation of the Senedd was greatly harmed by the scandal involving Vaughan Gething, and this will not help in rebuilding public confidence."
Labour MS Alun Davies responded to the Welsh Tory leader by stating: "If Andrew RT Davies ever decides to use his computer, he might as well just watch TV and make angry comments about the news."
Alternatively, he could spend his time at the office focusing on serving the individuals he is meant to advocate for.
Elin Jones, the head of the Senedd, decided to take GB News off the TV system inside the building in October.
After actor Laurence Fox was fired for his on-air comments about a female journalist, the channel received a surge of complaints that led to this action.
The leader of the Senedd stated that the broadcast was intentionally offensive and harmful to public discussions, going against the principles of our Parliament.
The head of the Senedd Conservatives then featured on a unique live edition of Farage at Large to talk about Ms Jones' choice.
He faced criticism for being disrespectful towards women when he implied that the Llywydd didn't join him on the show because she was too busy with her hair. He was called out for his misogynistic behavior and lack of respect.
There is increasing worry about the content produced by GB News, as it frequently showcases programs where conservative interviewers show agreement with the conservative commentators they are speaking to.
The TV station has also been looked into by Ofcom multiple times.
Mr. Davies recently advocated for the channel to be brought back, only two weeks after the Senedd Commission met with a consultant to discuss a new strategy for the internal television system.
Many Senedd Members have a TV in their offices to watch committee meetings and plenary sessions.
Additionally, there are a few unbiased news sources available for major news events like a budget announcement or the aftermath of an election.
The Senedd's new policy focuses on saving money and reducing the number of channels available on Senedd TVs. This means Members will only have access to a small selection of channels necessary for their work, rather than a wide variety.
GB News and all other channels can be accessed on the Senedd’s IT system, and have always been available. This means that MS's can watch any show on a Senedd computer without any restrictions.
We inquired with Andrew RT Davies if he knew he can watch GB News in the Senedd when he has free time, but unfortunately, we did not get a reply.
A representative from the Senedd Commission stated that after a review by an outside party, a new policy has been put in place for the internal television system. The main goal of this policy is to ensure that Senedd meetings can be broadcast on television.
Members and their staff can still access news channels and stations that are not included in the system online.
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