Starmer says Government is right to investigate UAE takeover of The Telegraph
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Sir Keir Starmer has supported the Culture Secretary’s decision to review the proposed Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of The Telegraph.
The Labour leader said Lucy Frazer was “right” to block RedBird IMI from taking control of this newspaper so ministers can examine the deal, amid concerns about censorship and foreign state ownership.
RedBird IMI is a joint venture between RedBird, an American private equity firm, and International Media Investments (IMI), an Abu Dhabi vehicle backed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
Sheikh Mansour also owns Manchester City and is the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has prompted concerns over the regime’s record on free speech and women’s rights.
Asked on a visit to Estonia about the future of The Telegraph, Sir Keir told GB News: “I think the Government is looking into this at the moment and I think they’re right to do that. And we’ll wait to see what the outcome of that process is.”
IMI is providing 75 per cent of the £600 million price for The Telegraph and The Spectator, its sister publication and the oldest weekly magazine in the world.
‘No guarantee of editorial independence’
The bid itself is being fronted by Jeff Zucker, a former chief at the liberal US news network CNN who has vowed he would resign if Abu Dhabi was to interfere with the independence of the publications.
It came as senior Conservative MPs, including three government ministers, told The Telegraph that they opposed the sale of the newspaper to RedBird IMI.
One minister claimed the involvement of the UAE – where it is illegal to post material online that criticises the government, or to photograph some government buildings – would mean “no guarantee of editorial independence will be worth the paper it is written on”.
“It is fundamentally wrong for an autocratic regime to control one of the leading organs of free speech in a liberal democracy,” they said.
Another frontbencher added: “It’s vital that such a crucial part of this country’s democratic life stays free of any potential – or, for that matter, perceived – political influence.”
A third minister also expressed alarm at Abu Dhabi’s record and said they were “deeply suspicious” about the future of The Telegraph if the sale went ahead.
National security concerns
On Thursday, Alicia Kearns, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee, and Andy Carter, the chair of the All Party Media Group of MPs, which seeks to advance a free press, also expressed their opposition to the takeover.
“As we battle against rising tide of disinformation, protecting a vibrant media landscape, and above all the editorial independence of our leading newspapers, is vital,” Ms Kearns said.
“With colleagues, I have asked the Deputy Prime Minister to exercise his powers to review the potential transaction relating to The Telegraph and The Spectator involving Lloyds Bank, the Barclay family and RedBird IMI on the grounds of our national security.”
She added that she plans to meet those involved in attempts to purchase The Telegraph and The Spectator to discuss her concerns.
Mr Carter said: “The cornerstone of our democracy is a free press. I’m not convinced that a newspaper that is effectively controlled by a foreign government is in the interests of the British people.”
He said he was “very supportive” of Ms Frazer’s decision to block the sale and insisted on the need for the “accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion”.
“Simply because someone has the money doesn’t mean they pass the test as ‘fit and proper person’ to have control of a key section of the British Media,” Mr Carter added.
Senior journalists including Camilla Tominey, The Telegraph’s associate editor, and Janet Daley, a Sunday Telegraph columnist since 1996, have sounded the alarm in recent weeks about discrimination against women in the UAE.
Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of MI6, urged ministers to block the takeover earlier this month, arguing it represents a “profound security concern”.
Many of our readers have raised concerns over the potential sale of Telegraph Media Group to the Abu Dhabi-linked Redbird IMI. While Ofcom carries out its investigation we are inviting the submission of comments on the process. Email salecomments@telegraph.co.uk to have your say.
