Yahoo News Tory MP backs GB News host Dan Wootton after he denies 'criminal allegations'
Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns described the GB News presenter as “brave” after he admitted “errors of judgement".
A Tory MP has backed GB News host Dan Wootton after he spoke out about allegations made about his past.
Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns described Wootton as “brave” after he admitted he made “errors of judgement in the past”, while denying “criminal allegations”.
The 40-year-old journalist and broadcaster is alleged to have offered media colleagues thousands of pounds for explicit material of themselves, while using fake online identities.
Speaking on his GB News show on Tuesday night, he told viewers he had been the “target” of a “smear campaign”.
'There are dark forces out to try and take this brilliant channel down. And that’s because GB News is the biggest threat to the establishment in decades, and they will stop at nothing to destroy us.'@DanWootton pic.twitter.com/pmNkZNN6DA
— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 18, 2023
Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood, tweeted her support for Wootton following his show, describing his speech as “brave, heartfelt and powerful.”
She added, “we have your back Dan” and told him to “keep going”.
Read more: Who is Dan Wootton? Career of GB News presenter as he denies allegations
Addressing the claims, Wootton said: “As a journalist, I feel uncomfortable being the story but I’ve always promised you that this show has no spin and no bias and no censorship so I owe it to you to address this.”
Wootton added: “I, like all fallible human beings, have made errors of judgement in the past but the criminal allegations being made against me are simply untrue.
“I would like nothing more than to address those spurious claims, I could actually spend the next two hours doing so, but on the advice of my lawyers I cannot comment further.”
Read more: Sun and Mail publishers examine claims against journalist Dan Wootton
Wootton announced in January 2021 that he would leave his job as executive editor at The Sun.
He has since become a columnist for MailOnline, owned by DMG Media, which is also a publisher of the Daily Mail and Metro newspapers.
A DMG media spokesperson said: “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into them.”
A spokesperson for News UK, publisher of The Sun, added: “We are looking into the allegations made in recent days. We are not able to make any further comment at this stage.”
Wootton returned to GB News on Monday after he told viewers he took a break last week to see family in New Zealand.
Yahoo News UK has contacted GB News for comment.
Update: Yahoo understands that the Met Police and Police Scotland have investigated the allegations against Mr Wootton. In February 2024, both concluded that no further action was necessary.
