Blair Addresses Murdoch’s News Corporation

The Labour leader, Tony Blair has told 200 editors and executives of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation that much of the UK’s media regulation framework is obsolete and Labour is committed to an “open and competitive media market.”

In his speech in Australia, Mr Blair outlined Labour’s proposals on media and technology to News Corporation in a bid to show that Labour are geared to the future of media.

Mr Blair insisted on a ‘proper framework of rules’, including the avoidance of excessive dominance by any single company – Murdoch controls five UK national newspapers. Blair said, “The aim should be to create as much choice as possible. The best way of achieving it is by an open and competitive market, though the special place that the media has in the dissemination of information means there is a need for a proper framework of rules.” Labour’s principles were of diversity of content, plurality of ownership, regional strength and programme quality. Blair said the immense task ahead was to combine the preparation of a nation for economic change with the re-establishment of social order.

There was controversy as to whether Mr Blair should have attended the conference. John Prescott, the Deputy Leader defended Mr Blair describing it as an opportunity to influence an important media group.