Labour hits out at Sky tie-up plans
LABOUR is gearing up to oppose Rupert Murdoch’s proposed £12bn takeover of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Shadow culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has written to opposite number Jeremy Darroch demanding he launch an investigation into plans by News Corp. to acquire the 61 per cent of Sky it doesn’t already own.
And a group of Labour MPs are backing an early day motion calling for “greater regulatory scrutiny of the deal”.
“This House… urges the Government not to enable further excessive concentrations of ownership… and calls on the UK regulators and European competition authorities to carry out reviews,” the motion says.
Earlier this month, business secretary Vince Cable told City A.M. there was “no suggestion” the government should intervene in the proposed 675p-a-share offer.