The Guardian has shown ultimate cowardice - GB News won't make the same mistake and will keep championing free speech, says Michael Booker

Saturday Night Showdown panel on The Guardian leaving X
GB NEWS
Michael Booker

By Michael Booker


Published: 18/11/2024

- 09:38

Updated: 22/11/2024

- 12:44

GB News Editorial Director Michael Booker gives his verdict on the latest trend for the most ‘in vogue’ virtue-signallers

The Guardian newspaper has a long and inglorious history of getting things wrong. It was first published on May 5th 1821 - a day that was also notable for seeing the death of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Of course the timing of the two events was entirely coincidental.


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The Guardian can’t possibly be held responsible for the pointy-hatted Emperor’s death from a terminal stomach disease, although, to be fair, since then many of their ‘long reads’ have proven dangerously indigestible to most casual readers.

But given The Guardian and Napoleon’s shared dislike of Britain and its values, it’s perhaps fitting that they are connected by the date.

These days there’s many who say it’s on the wrong side of the debate when it comes to the middle East and political, social and cultural issues in the UK.

And the least said the better about its record for spelling…

As a journalist I also struggle to forget that time in the not too distant past when, after highlighting the clearly wrong practice of phone-hacking, they decided to try and help jail or demonise every other innocent tabloid journalist too.

Last week though they really got things wrong when they decided to leave Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).

\u200bThe Guardian

The Guardian announced is was leaving X last week

WIKICOMMONS

Given their previously mentioned reputation for spelling errors I can’t actually confirm a rumour that the initial draft of their final post said they were quitting ‘Z’.

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But, in the final posting that did appear, one that will probably win them a gong for special services to pomposity in journalism from their mates in the backslapping establishment media awards industry, they claimed the place had become “a toxic platform” full of “disturbing content…including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”

In a moment of remembering they always like to have their plant-based cake and then eat it at all times, they signed off by saying "X users will still be able to share our articles….and.. we will still occasionally embed content from X within our article pages". Then they scuttled off.

Leaving X has become a must-do trend for most ‘in vogue’ virtue-signallers.

But it’s the ultimate in cowardice and NOT a fashion GB News will be following. Like it or not, and for the avoidance of doubt we do like it, X is still the world’s town square.

And, like most real life town squares, there are good and bad people passing through most days.

But the good usually outweighs the bad and, as many of us were were taught as children, if you want to have any influence among the crowd you have to be at least present.

That’s why GB News WILL be sticking around. More than anything we are about people, it’s not for nothing that we call ourselves The People’s Channel.

Since we began broadcasting on June 13th 2021 (a date on which no major historical figure died) we have made it our mission to stand up for the British people and their values.

We exist to give an outlet to those who can’t usually make themselves heard, ignored and patronised for years by the establishment political and media classes.

After you enter the front door to the GB News studio HQ there is a sign that reads “We are the fearless champion of Britain — its voices and its values.”

And we vow that wherever GB News has an outlet, on TV, radio, YouTube and, yes, Elon Musk’s X, we will be there with that ‘Fearless’ attitude to free speech.
Unlike some broadcasters or social media users we do not confuse being fearless with being reckless.

You see examples of recklessness and downright wrong on all forms of the media - not just X - every day.

But you can’t change things by running away in fear like The Guardian have done.

You need to stand and fight and make yourself heard and as such GB News will remain on X.

I don’t know if you’ve ever looked out of the window - particularly in the UK most days - but real life isn’t all blue skies and you are a deluded fool if you think it is.

Life’s tough and it’s how you face the challenges of daily life that really matters.

Britain and the rest of the world is at a pivotal point and free speech is more vital than ever.

Donald Trump’s victory in the US election - one of the reasons why The Guardian and other self guardians of public morals picked up their belongings and walked away in a huff - shows that whether you like him or not, millions of people are unhappy with the way things have been run in recent years.

We witnessed that ourselves here in the UK with widespread unrest this summer.

The promotion of free and open - but respectful - speech is one of the main reasons for the existence of GB News.

Plenty of people, The Guardian included, didn’t want GB News to succeed.

But here at GB News, where our audience and influence is growing bigger by the day, we want to use every platform we are on to use free speech as a powerful force for good.

Despite what some of our deluded critics may say, we don’t actually care which party is in power in Britain or the United States.

Whatever colour the manifesto, be it blue, red, yellow or teal, we only demand the party in charge give the best deal possible to the people of this country. GB News will stand up for any of you in the face of fire from those more powerful - and won’t back down.

That’s why wherever the people of Britain congregate GB News will be there, giving those people a platform and a voice.

Others may flee the town square, but not GB News. For us X still marks the spot where we want YOUR voice to be heard.

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