Knock-back for Murdoch

RUPERT Murdoch was denied an early decision on his proposed £11.7billion takeover of Sky before Parliament broke for the summer yesterday.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said she was “still minded” to refer it to competition watchdogs.

Her shadow Tom Watson urged her to “stand firm”, claiming lawyers for Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox had tried to “bounce her into a decision”.

But the firm said: “We respect the importance of regulatory scrutiny.”