Kremlin mouthpiece faces Ofcom probe: Nadine Dorries orders watchdog to take action against Russia Today over its coverage of Ukraine crisis
- Culture secretary Nadine Dorries wrote to broadcast regulator over Russia Today
- Ms Dorries raised concern channel may spread propaganda during Ukraine crisis
- It is understood Ofcom has no plans to expel RT and had less than 50 complaints
Nadine Dorries yesterday ordered Ofcom to take ‘timely and transparent’ action against Russia Today amid growing concerns it is spreading propaganda during the Ukraine crisis.
The Culture Secretary wrote to the broadcast regulator to raise concerns that the Kremlin-backed outfit could ‘look to spread harmful disinformation’ in the UK.
But Boris Johnson rejected calls for an outright ban, saying it should be up to Ofcom to ban media organisations rather than politicians.
And RT responded provocatively last night, saying that the BBC should also be subject to a review by Ofcom over its ‘state sponsorship’.
In a letter to Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, Miss Dorries said the Russian government was conducting an ‘aggressive’ disinformation campaign.
Ofcom is an independent body that has the power to fine RT or even revoke its licence to broadcast in the UK.
Pictured: Nadine Dorries wrote to the broadcast regulator over the Kremlin-backed channel Russia Today, raising concern the channel may spread propaganda during the Ukraine crisis
It has previously fined the broadcaster £200,000 for breaching impartiality rules over the 2018 Salisbury novichok poisoning.
Miss Dorries said RT was ‘demonstrably part of Russia’s global disinformation campaign’ and said certain states sought to ‘exploit and undermine’ the UK’s media landscape.
She pointed to its editor-in-chief, who has previously referred to the broadcaster as an ‘information weapon’ that can be deployed against the West. She said it was essential that the UK looked to limit Russia’s ability to spread propaganda.
She added that while she respected Ofcom’s independence, it was essential that it kept RT under review.
But in the Commons yesterday, the Prime Minister rejected a call from Labour leader Keir Starmer for an outright ban on RT.
He said: ‘We live in a democracy, Mr Speaker, and we live in a country that believes in free speech and I think it’s important that we should leave it up to Ofcom rather than to politicians to decide which media organisations to ban. That’s what Russia does.’
It is understood Ofcom has no plans to expel RT and it has had fewer than 50 complaints
Sir Keir told the Commons that Vladimir Putin’s ‘campaign of misinformation’ should be tackled.
RT’s coverage of Ukraine has been from a pro-Russian perspective, with reports of celebrations in Luhansk and Donetsk after President Putin sent in tanks.
Ofcom said: ‘All licensees must observe Ofcom’s rules, including due accuracy and due impartiality.
‘If broadcasters break those rules, we will not hesitate to step in. Given the seriousness of the Ukraine crisis, we will examine complaints about any broadcaster’s news coverage of this issue as a priority.’
It is understood that the regulator has no plans to expel RT and it has had fewer than 50 complaints about its Ukraine output.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said it was ‘unthinkable’ that her predecessor Alex Salmond still had a show on RT. She backed calls for Ofcom to revoke its broadcast licence.
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