The British government has taken a decisive step to halt an Abu Dhabi-backed group’s attempt to acquire the Telegraph Media Group, which owns the Telegraph newspaper, amidst concerns regarding freedom of expression.
The move came on Friday following government intervention to subject the takeover bid to regulatory scrutiny.
Culture and media minister Lucy Frazer issued an enforcement order on Friday that effectively bars any transfer of ownership of the Telegraph Media Group without her explicit permission.
Additionally, the order prevents any alterations to the group’s structure or changes in senior editorial staff.
The decision to intervene in the proposed deal was initiated on Thursday when the government requested regulators to thoroughly examine the transaction.
This step aligns with the government’s commitment to uphold freedom of expression within the British media landscape.
Britain’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has also entered the fray by inviting public comments on the takeover proposal, with a deadline set for December 13.
The Telegraph Media Group, which encompasses the right-leaning Telegraph newspaper and the Spectator magazine, was put up for sale after Lloyds Banking Group took control in June, following a protracted dispute with the previous owners, the Barclay family.
The entity seeking ownership of the media group is RedBird IMI, led by former CNN executive Jeff Zucker and backed by Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Concerns about the potential impact on freedom of expression have loomed large in this proposed acquisition, with critics highlighting apprehensions about the influence of a Gulf state on a British newspaper.
Telegraph Associate Editor Camilla Tominey expressed her confidence in the British government’s decision to block the deal, emphasizing the widespread recognition of the scrutiny needed in this case.
Tominey also voiced concerns about the treatment of women in the UAE, citing differences in standards and values between the UAE and Western countries.
In summary, the British government’s intervention in the potential ownership transfer of the Telegraph Media Group reflects its commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression in the media, as it requests regulatory scrutiny and public input into the deal.
These measures come amid concerns about the influence of an Abu Dhabi-backed group on a prominent British newspaper and questions about adherence to Western standards and values.