"Not all Sikh men are the same!”
GB News came under fire after it confused two Sikh politicians in a social media post.
In a post on X, the right-wing television channel intended to promote an interview with the Tory peer Kulveer Ranger on the government’s Rwanda bill.
However, the peer was incorrectly identified as the Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.
The post read: “‘The House of Lords should not be frustrating the will of the House of Commons’.
“Tan Dhesi urges Conservatives to ‘stick to Rishi Sunak’s plan’ as the prime minister tries to get his Rwanda bill through House of Lords.”
The blunder quickly invited criticism and Lord Ranger later received he had received an apology from GB News.
He also tweeted: “This should not happen! In 20 years of broadcasting on TV and radio, I have never been mistaken in this manner.
“I have raised this with @GBNEWS who have apologised and are looking into this error.
“Mistakes happen but we expect high standards of journalism from all broadcasters #ProudSikh.”
Meanwhile, Tan Dhesi admitted that the interview was a surprise to him and that “not all Sikh men are the same”.
He posted on X: “Having been very critical of the Rwanda Bill, I must admit this interview came as news to me.
“My dastaar (turban) is a proud part of my identity, but this Tory peer is definitely not me, because our identities are as distinct as our opinions.
“Not all Sikh men are the same!”
UK immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bhangal revealed to Mr Dhesi that he was misidentified also, commenting:
“Catch up @TanDhesi! Happened to me last year by the ‘research group’ Migration Watch! Great at research obviously!”
Having been very critical of the #RwandaBill, I must admit this interview came as news to me!
My #dastaar (#turban) is a proud part of my #identity, but this Tory peer is definitely not me, because our identities are as distinct as our opinions.
Not all #Sikh men are the same! pic.twitter.com/nMHeRQa5cp
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) January 30, 2024
The error came as Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan was condemned by Conservative peers, historians and bishops.
This indicates that the House of Lords could demand changes that may delay its implementation.
The incorrect tweet is the latest in a series of mistakes by GB News, including a newsreader swearing live on air in September 2023.
GB News also suspended presenters Dan Wootton and Laurence Fox in 2023 following misogynistic comments made on Wootton’s show.
Ofcom found GB News breached impartiality guidelines in 2023 relating to an interview with the Reform party leader, Richard Tice, while the Liberal Democrats called for an investigation over criticism of the party’s leader, Ed Davey.
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