Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy Says GB News Is “What Nigel Farage Wants The Future Of The Right To Be”
EXCLUSIVE: GB News represents “what Nigel Farage wants the future of the right to be,” according to Channel 4’s lead general election anchor.
Farage was one of the right-leaning news network’s starriest presenters but quit several weeks ago in order to run for parliament and lead Reform UK, an anti-immigration party that has been hurting the Conservatives in the polls. He had initially said he would not run but would instead help Donald Trump with the former POTUS’ U.S. campaign.
A number of right-wing Conservative politicians such as Jacob Rees-Mogg present GB News shows and if, as expected, the Conservatives are given a hammering on July 4, many observers predict the party will lurch towards Farage on the right.
“In a way, GB News is what Nigel Farage wants the future of the [British] right to be, this fusion of Reform UK and the right of the Conservative Party,” Guru-Murthy said. “I think that is the precursor to what has been going on [on GB News]. That bringing together of people on that side of politics has played out on TV. It’s been very interesting to watch.”
Sitting within the same TV schedule as the likes of vocal Brexit proponent Rees-Mogg reflects “the kind of cabinet Nigel Farage would like to be leading,” Guru-Murthy added.
Guru-Murthy, who has covered nine elections and will be joined by ex-BBC supremo Emily Maitlis on July 4, shrugged off the threat of GB News, saying that the two are now “in different industries.”
“They are players in politics, we are journalists,” he added, coming after GB News fell foul of Ofcom’s code several times over the thorny issue of politicians presenting news programs.
He branded GB News a “right-wing TV station in a way that Fox News has been in America,” although said it has “blown [Rupert Murdoch’s] TalkTV out the water,” with the latter recently migrating to online only, following the lead of star presenter Piers Morgan.
“I’m not even sure Talk TV exists anymore,” said Guru-Murthy.
The anchor was speaking with Deadline for our UK general election deep dive, which will be published shortly. The election takes place in a week’s time.