Ministers move to block sale of Telegraph

FOREIGN governments will be blocked from owning UK newspapers and magazines, amid rising disquiet over the UAE-backed bid for The Daily Telegraph.

The Government, under pressure from MPs, pledged last night to table an amendment to legislation going through the House of Lords to block such deals.

RedBird IMI, majority- owned by the United Arab Emirates’ International Media Investments, wants to buy Telegraph Media Group. The Spectator magazine would be included in any deal.

Tory peer Baroness Stowell had proposed an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill to stop takeovers by foreign states.

But with this facing possible defeat, media minister Lord Parkinson said the Government would bring forward its amendment ‘ to rule out newspaper and periodical news magazine mergers

‘Protections for a free Press’

involving ownership, influence or control by foreign states’.

Lord Parkinson suggested that the changes could apply to the Telegraph Media Group takeover if they pass into law swiftly.

‘With regard to any live case... the Secretary of State will continue to follow the process set out in the existing regime and will also apply the new measures that will be set out in the Government amendments,’ he told peers.

A Government spokesman said: ‘We have listened carefully to the arguments made by Parliamentarians... and are taking action to explicitly rule out foreign state ownership, influence or control of newspapers and periodical news magazines. This will deliver additional protections for a free Press, a pillar of our democracy and a priority for the Government.’

It comes as ministers consider reports from media regulator Ofcom and competition watchdog the CMA about the takeover.