UK curbs on media control threaten Telegraph deal

The move will add further barriers to the takeover of the Telegraph newspaper linked to the UAE

The move comes amid growing disquiet in Parliament about the takeover of the nearly 170-year-old Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Spectator magazine by investment vehicle RedBird IMI, backed by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour.

Rishi Sunak’s government plans to ban foreign states from controlling or influencing UK newspapers and news magazines, a move that appears to rule out a UAE-linked takeover of the Telegraph newspaper.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Culture minister Stephen Parkinson confirmed reports the government would tighten competition legislation currently passing through Parliament. The proposal would be subject to a vote in the upper House and House of Commons before it came into UK law.