Tom
Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
commenting on Karen Bradley’s announcement that she has today referred the Sky
bid to Ofcom, said:
“Intervening
in this proposed merger was the only legitimate course of action for Karen
Bradley to take.
"It
is right that Ofcom applies a ‘fit and proper’ assessment to the bid and
considers any public interest test, in addition to concerns about plurality and
broadcasting standards.
“But
a comprehensive fit and proper test will take time, so that all of the
Murdochs’ failures of corporate governance during the phone hacking scandal and
elsewhere can be properly investigated.
"The
only way to get all of the evidence Ofcom needs to make this assessment is to
go ahead with part two of the Leveson Inquiry – as David Cameron promised to
the victims of phone hacking. If the Government was really committed to the
fullest investigation of this bid, they would commence it immediately.”
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