Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB hangs in the balance

RUPERT MURDOCH’S bid to take control of BSkyB was hanging in the balance last night as it was claimed his journalists targeted former prime minister Gordon Brown and the Prince of Wales with illegal techniques.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt referred the media tycoon’s proposed takeover of the satellite broadcaster to the Competition Commission amid further developments in the phone-hacking and police corruption scandals at the News of the World.

The crisis enveloping Murdoch’s empire widened as it was reported that journalists from other News International newspapers illegally obtained private information about the former prime minister.