Ofcom  has launched an investigation into a Bristol Radio politics programme, following a submission by a UKLFI director that it was being used for the propagation of conspiracy theories and extremist views.

Bristol Community FM (BCFM)  has a two-hour weekly politics show hosted by Tony Gosling. A typical programme on 23 November 2018 included the following allegations:

• that the Manchester Arena bombing was carried out by MI5 in league with the Rothschild family

• that Matthew Hedges, then in prison in the UAE, was probably a spy

• by Miko Peled, that Israeli children are indoctrinated and Palestinian children are intentionally killed by Israelis in Gaza

• that Israel is the most dangerous country in the Middle East

• that the CIA tried to assassinate Vladimir Putin by hacking his car

• by Joseph Wages, that “illuminati” use degree rituals and oaths to infiltrate and control governments to bring about a globalist “New World Order”

• that Christian Zionists’ nihilist puppet-masters are using scenes of mass war destruction, mass extinction, famine and chaos prophesied in the Book of Revelation to bring on their antichrist messiah

Gosling has a separate podcast, whose first episode looked at whether Jews consider themselves to be the Master Race and discussed the following issues with the assistance of Tony Greenstein and Gilad Atzmon:

• Is there a case for Jewish ‘race’ being innocent? What is Jewishness and what is the phenomenon’s relation to ‘chosenness’.

• Jewish exceptionalism has many faces, identifying politically as a Jew. Operating in racially oriented bodies, they think in racial terms and they accuse everybody else of being racist.

• Should Israel, as a racist state, have the right to exist?

Gosling also believes that the 9/11 attacks in New York and the 7/7 bombings in London were set-ups and has a website covering such issues.

UKLFI’s director submitted to OFCOM that The Politics Show (with a detailed example of the programme on 23 November 2018) was filled with conspiracy theories, extremism, racism and propaganda and in breach of multiple provisions of the OFCOM Code.

We also pointed out given the overwhelming nature of the international extremist conspiracy theories that it broadcast, BCFM was also in breach of its “Key Commitment” of promoting social cohesion via local information, news and educational items.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UKLFI commented: “We identified and analysed 14 breaches of the OFCOM Code in a single episode of a programme that is broadcast every week. This must be a cause for alarm. OFCOM should ensure that an extremist is not permitted a platform to spread his message of conspiracy and hate.”

If Ofcom considers that a broadcaster or service provider may have breached its codes, rules, licence condition or other regulatory requirements, it will start an investigation.  Ofcom’s latest bulletin dated 28 January 2019 confirms that one of the investigations launched between 7 and 20 January 2019 is into the Politics Show, broadcast by BCFM on 23 November 2018.

Ofcom’s bulletin states: “It is important to note that an investigation by Ofcom does not necessarily mean the broadcaster or service provider has done anything wrong. Not all investigations result in breaches of the codes, rules, licence conditions or other regulatory requirements being recorded.”