Hunt says judicial challenge over BSkyB takeover is “likely”

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is resigned to a judicial challenge whether he allows the BSkyB takeover or not.

Speaking at the London School of Economics, Hunt said: “This is a decision that is likely to be judicially challenged by the side that is disappointed.”

He did not hint at a decision over the Murdoch row, but said, “this is a very, very hot potato and I’m aware of what happens if you hold a hot potato in your hand for too long,” according to the Guardian.

Although if Newsline columnist Raymond Snoddy is right, Hunt will have “absolutely no option but to refer the issue for full investigation by the Competition Commission. If there ever was any doubt about the matter there can be none now because of pirated prejudices of business secretary Vince Cable.

Due process across a decent stretch of time is also the only way of putting matters right given the number of meetings Hunt has had with News Corp luminaries without civil service chaperones and the kind things he has said about the achievements of BSkyB.

In retrospect it was a trifle unfortunate that the culture secretary had said publicly he did not object to such a takeover.

This all happened before the unexploded hand grenade suddenly arrived in his in-tray and before circumstances forced him to become quasi-judicial.

Unfortunately for Jeremy Hunt, sending the BSkyB takeover to the Competition Commission only buys him six months or so of time – unless he has been promoted to the business secretary’s job by then.

In most mergers and takeovers the Commission has the final say. But Cable has left Hunt a final poisoned chalice. Because the initial Ofcom investigation was launched as a public interest issue, it is Hunt who will have the final say on the Competition Commission’s verdict.

The Commission is unlikely to block the BSkyB takeover in its entirety. If it did that would cause Hunt a serious dilemma. Can you imagine the political row and cries of fix if the culture secretary overturned the express findings of an independent, specialist competition body taking its decisions in the national interest? Luckily he will probably be spared such a cruel choice.”