Vince Cable is right to refer the proposed News Corp takeover of BskyB to Ofcom. That is the strong view of local MP, Norman Baker.
On the 4th of November, Lib Dem MP and Secretary of State, Vince Cable, issued a European intervention notice requesting Ofcom, the industry regulator, to report on the effects of News Corp's proposed acquisition of BskyB on media plurality, specifying the public interest consideration in section 58 of the Enterprise Act 2002.
Ofcom's role will be to conduct an initial investigation into the public interest consideration and to provide advice and recommendations on it which may be relevant to the Secretary of State's decision on whether he should refer the case to the Competition Commission for further analysis. It is due to report back to Vince Cable at the end of the year.
Over the last couple of weeks, Norman has been contacted by over 50 constituents who have outlined their support for the referral of the case to Ofcom, in addition to a thorough investigation being undertaken, a view that Norman has relayed to Ed Davey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at BIS.
Commenting Norman said: "Plurality within the media is crucial to a functioning democracy. You need views across a broad spectrum of beliefs and ensuring that the erosion of that does not take place is very important. It is clear from the sheer number of local people who have contacted me about this that many want to see plurality protected as well and are unhappy with any further inroads into media by Rupert Murdoch. Vince's announcement is therefore very much welcome."
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
