Piers Morgan has declared a “victory for free speech” after broadcast regulator Ofcom backed him in the row that led to him leaving ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

Ofcom received more than 50,000 complaints claiming Morgan had made harmful and highly offensive comments about Meghan Markle’s claims of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, and that discussions on issues relating to race and racism were also highly offensive.

Morgan made his comments on 8 March, the morning after Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah first aired in the US. The programme became the most complained about in Ofcom history.