GB NEWS was slapped with a £100,000 fine today for breaking impartiality rules with a programme featuring Rishi Sunak.

Ofcom launched an investigation after the channel, funded by investment group Legatum and hedge fund boss Paul Marshall, aired a Q&A-style debate with the then-prime minister on February 12.

The regulator found that although the audience’s questions provided some challenge to Tory policies, they were not able to challenge Mr Sunak’s responses and the presenter failed to do so “to any meaningful extent.”

Ofcom concluded that Mr Sunak “had a mostly uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his government in a period preceding a UK general election, in breach of Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code.”

GB News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos claimed that Ofcom’s decision was “a direct attack on free speech and journalism” and is challenging the ruling in the courts.

The channel is already challenging rulings against it after Conservative MPs were found to be breaching impartiality rules by acting as presenters.

Ofcom confirmed that it would not enforce the sanction until the proceedings were concluded.