Tories Attack ‘Humiliating’ Communications Bill U-Turn
Shadow Culture Secretary, John Wittingdale, has branded the Government’s decision to accept Lord Puttnam’s plurality test amendment to the Communications Bill a “humiliating surrender” to those opposing the liberalisation of the media ownership regulations (see Government Ends Media Ownership Deadlock).
The outspoken Conservative MP said the eleventh hour amendment to impose a special public interest test on any large media group wanting to buy Channel Five, runs “completely contrary” to the declared intention of the Communications Bill and will erect another hurdle in the way of ownership changes.
He added: “When this matter was debated in the House of Commons, the Minister for Broadcasting said that a plurality test would create uncertainty and would put those wanting to acquire media assets in a worse position. He was entirely right.”
Tessa Jowell was forced to accept to compromise after a group of rebel peers, concerned that Rupert Murdoch would have too much power in the newly deregulated landscape, vowed to vote down the Communications Bill if the amendment was rejected (see Government Faces Growing Threat From Rebel Peers).
The compromise will make it harder for Murdoch’s News International and any other large newspaper groups wanting to own Five, by giving the Ofcom the power to block high-profile takeovers in the name of public interest.
Whittingdale, a strong supporter of the liberalisation of the media ownership rules, said: “The Government’s concession to Lord Puttnam and his colleges simply imposes new and unnecessary regulation.”
The Government has also agreed to allow ITV licence holders to take full control of ITN following a last minute amendment to the Communications Bill, designed to avert an embarrassing defeat in the House of Lords (see ITV Partners Cleared To Take Full Control Of ITN).
DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.dcms.gov.uk
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