View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Phone hacking: Prescott calls for BSkyB takeover delay

Rupert Murdoch’s takeover of BSkyB should be put on hold until police have completed their inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott told the House of Lords today.

Prescott, who is among a number of high-profile individuals who believe they were victims of phone-hacking, asked government spokesman Lord Wallace of Saltaire: “Is the government aware, in giving this decision on BSkyB, that it would be totally unacceptable for a company like this that is actively involved at all levels in criminal acts to be given control of BSkyB?

“Will they now delay the decision until all these investigations are completed?”

His call came after detectives bailed two senior journalists who were arrested in connection with the phone hacking inquiry yesterday.

Tory peer Lord Fowler called for a full independent inquiry into the tabloid hacking controversy, saying: “There has been a five-year delay in the investigation and the utter failure of any system to prevent any such wrongdoing.”

Lord Wallace said the goverment would be “prepared to commission” such an inquiry. He told peers: “I will take the strength of feeling in this house back to ministers. There are many aspects of concern.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network