Liberty stands up for sacked radio presenter over 'Nazi' jibe at councillor » Communities » 24dash.com

Sacked radio presenter Jon Gaunt, who called a Conservative councillor a "Nazi" and an "ignorant pig" live on air, received backing from human rights group Liberty today.

Gaunt (pictured) previously said he was "bemused" by Talksport radio's decision to sack him following an investigation into the remarks made earlier this month on his radio show.

And Liberty said that democracy on the airwaves is poorer for Gaunt's absence.

In a letter sent to Talksport on behalf of Gaunt, Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti described the termination of his employment as a "bizarre and disproportionate approach to someone who was no doubt contracted to excite political debate amongst a whole host of listeners who might not normally engage with news and current affairs programmes".

She continued: "...whilst Mr Gaunt's style may not be to everyone's taste, it is our view that no reasonable listener could have construed his comments in context as accusing the subjects of involvement in or association with Nazism.

"From a personal point of view as someone who has been on the receiving end of Jon Gaunt's blunt polemic in print and on the radio, I believe that the airwaves of a great democracy would be the poorer for his absence.

"I urge you to reinstate Mr Gaunt's programme without delay and have offered him support in the unlikely and unfortunate event that recourse to the Human Rights Act proves necessary."

A spokesman from Talksport declined to comment today.

Gaunt, whose controversial comments have drawn complaints to regulator Ofcom in the past, once called Ms Chakrabarti the "most dangerous woman in Britain," in his column for The Sun newspaper.

Liberty's backing for Gaunt follows last week's BBC Trust's report into the prank calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to Andrew Sachs on Brand's Radio 2 show. Brand quit and Ross was suspended.

Ms Chakrabarti said: "Whilst we appreciate that recent weeks have been a delicate time for all broadcasters, we see Mr Gaunt's case as materially different from (the BBC case)."

Gaunt interviewed Cllr Michael Stark on Talksport about Redbridge Council's ban on smokers becoming foster parents, which will come into force in January 2010.

Mr Stark defended the decision on the grounds that the welfare of young children should be put ahead of the needs of foster families.

But Gaunt, who was in care as a child, accused his interviewee of being a "Nazi" and an "ignorant pig".

He then tried to tone down his remarks by saying Mr Stark was a "health Nazi" and arguing that children in care would be deprived of the chance of finding a foster home under the new policy.

At the end of the show, Gaunt made an on-air apology to his guest and was suspended pending an investigation.

Gaunt admitted his emotions ran high during the interview because as a child he spent two months in care following the sudden death of his mother, Liberty said.

He said previously that he was "disappointed" by the radio station's decision when he apologised for the incident to both the audience and the councillor.

Gaunt said: "The councillor has accepted my apology and agrees that we all need to focus on the bigger picture - children in care.

"I have received tremendous support from hundreds of fans as well as national celebrities following this story and my views remain the same."