Ofcom ‘is normalising abuse’ by failing to probe GB News guest who said disabled people should be starved

The broadcasting watchdog has been told it is normalising the abuse of disabled people, after its “unacceptable” refusal to investigate a commentator who suggested the best way to cut disability benefit claimant numbers was to starve or shoot them.

Ofcom decided the comments made by comedian Lewis Schaffer – in the context of a response by GB News presenter Patrick Christys – were “irreverent” and “satirical”, even though it accepted they were “potentially highly offensive”.

Ofcom’s failure to investigate Schaffer’s comments comes only months after Disability News Service (DNS) revealed how the regulator has become increasingly unwilling to stand up against disability hate speech in the media over the last 15 years.

Eight of Ofcom’s 11 board members, including its chair, Lord Grade, were appointed by right-wing Conservative-led governments between 2016 and 2024.

Christys had told viewers watching his late-night show on 26 June that “welfare needs to be cut” – while ignoring the evidence that working-age social security spending is stable as a proportion of GDP* – before claiming that the prime minister was not “doing much” to cut disability benefits.

He then asked his guest Lewis Schaffer how he would “get them off their backside”.

Schaffer replied: “Just starve them, that’s what people have to do, that’s what you’ve got to do to people, you can’t just give people money.”

He then added: “What else can you do? Shoot them? I mean, I’d suggest that, but I think that’s maybe a bit strong.”

Christys then replied: “Yeah, it’s just not allowed these days.”

GB News said in a statement at the time: “Having reviewed the comment, which is clearly comedic, GB News does not consider there is anything that requires an apology, or further explanation.”

But despite 96 complaints of “disability discrimination/offence” to Ofcom about the exchange, the regulator concluded that they would not be “pursued” because they “did not raise issues warranting investigating”.

Dr Natasha Hirst, disabled members’ representative for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)** and former president of the union, told DNS this week: “It is beyond disappointing that Ofcom have chosen not to investigate the complaints made about the derogatory and hostile language used against disabled people on GB News.

“In the current context where disabled people are experiencing abuse and exclusion in their lives, it’s vital to enforce standards in broadcasting.

“The language used was not merely offensive, it had the potential to cause harm.

“Ofcom needs to recognise that the refusal to challenge discriminatory language normalises and emboldens those who target disabled people for abuse.

“Audiences expect action from our regulator and we call on them to take this issue more seriously.”

Louise Holden, senior policy officer on disability and crime for Inclusion London, said it was “absolutely unacceptable for Ofcom to ignore and not uphold complaints about disablist hate speech”.

She said: “Disabled people are not asking for more or better protections than others.

“It is perpetuating and reinforcing the hostile environment we have had to endure for years.

“Using humour as an acceptable reason for someone to say that disabled people should starve or be shot to reduce the welfare bill is disgusting.

“The families of the people who have starved to death due to DWP incompetence deserve justice.

“Ofcom needs to urgently review how they deal with disablist rhetoric in public broadcasting services.”

Richard Wilson, director of campaign group Stop Funding Hate, told DNS: “Ofcom’s job is to protect the public, not act as an enabler.

“Time and again we’ve seen that hate in our media leads to hate crime on our streets.

“Yet Ofcom has repeatedly refused to act amid a dangerous surge in toxic media commentary targeting disabled people and other minoritised groups – even as hate crime figures continue to rise.

“Just when accurate and responsible media are most needed, Britain’s broadcasting regulator has drastically watered down its enforcement of the rules.

“Ofcom’s leadership is ultimately accountable to parliament.

“One thing we can all do is write to our MP and ask them to press for urgent changes to ensure that Britain’s broadcasting regulator fully upholds its rules on hate speech, so that media outlets can no longer target disabled people with impunity.”

Ofcom defended its failure to investigate GB News over the Schaffer comments.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We carefully considered complaints about this late-night programme, and we understand some viewers found Lewis Schaffer’s remarks during a discussion about welfare reforms deeply concerning.

“Our assessment took into account the regular contributor’s established irreverent style.

“We also considered that the presenter’s response to the comments signalled to the audience that the remarks were satirical and not to be taken seriously.

“So while we acknowledge these remarks were potentially highly offensive, given the particular context we did not consider it raised any substantive issues warranting investigation.”

*Gross domestic product, the size of the country’s economy in a particular year

**DNS editor John Pring is an NUJ member

Picture: Patrick Christys (left) and Lewis Schaffer

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