Appeals To OFT Over Newspaper Prices

The Independent has asked the Office of Fair Trading to intervene in the latest round of newspaper price cutting, as political pressure also mounts. Peter Bottomley MP, vice chairman of the Conservative back-bench Media Committee, together with Robin Cook, Shadow Industry Secretary, and Matthew Taylor, Liberal Democrats’ chairman of campaigns, have all called for the OFT to rule on the price-cutting. The cover price of the Times, at 20p, is said to be well below the cost of production. When the price wars began in the autumn, Robin Cook raised the issue with the OFT, when it was ruled that the competition was fair.

The Telegraph has been cleared by the Stock Exchange of any improper practices regarding sale of stock just before the price cut on Thursday.