I’ve just given evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee which is considering the future of news and media more broadly. The best thing that politicians can do for the press is leave us alone: protect our independence (from politicians and government) but also protect the press from politicians and governments of other countries. This is now in doubt, with the Emirati bid for the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator through one of their investment vehicles, RedBird IMI.

The Media Bill is currently going through the Lords. Their lordships could amend it to state that foreign governments and their proxies cannot own newspapers or television stations in the UK. This is a no-brainer: why defend a 300-year-tradition of keeping the press free from the British government only to see it bought by foreign governments? With the Emiratis cosying up to the Kremlin and information becoming an international battleground, why allow Vladimir Putin’s ‘dear friend’ (as they call themselves) to own Britain’s best-selling quality newspaper?

The Lords could thereby bring a quick end to what is already a damagingly drawn-out affair. If they amended the Bill, there’s bound to be a majority in both the Lords and the Commons for this common-sense regulation. Jamie Stone, a Liberal Democrat MP, said in a debate last week that the ‘the mood of the House is that this [the Emirati bid] is simply not on’. The MPs were pretty angry that Julia Lopez, the minister, said she could not even answer questions about this crucial issue due to the Ofcom inquiry. But they can end this glacially-paced process by a quick and clear legislative amendment.

If the Lords amend the Media Bill to see that foreign governments should not own British publications (similar protection can be found in several other countries) then the Commons should pass it easily.

QOSHE - Could the Lords stop the Emirati bid for the Telegraph and the Spectator? - Fraser Nelson
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Could the Lords stop the Emirati bid for the Telegraph and the Spectator?

2 1
13.02.2024

I’ve just given evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee which is considering the future of news and media more broadly. The best thing that politicians can do for the press is leave us alone: protect our independence (from politicians and government) but also protect the press from politicians and governments of other countries. This is now in doubt, with the Emirati bid for the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator through one of their investment........

© The Spectator


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