The government's capitulation to a protectionist campaign by the right-wing media and Tory MPs sends a very negative message to international investors
Very astute analysis. I’m concerned about all the private non-dom individuals owning our press too. But I doubt the government will do anything about them.
This tawdry business smacks of the right wing of the Tory Party protecting its in house news sheets (DT and Spectator) above all else. So much for the free market.
Yes, even if Abu Dhabi had got control of the Telegraph (which, as I say, was a complete misrepresentation of the proposed deal), it is hard to imagine it could have inflicted greater damage to the social and political fabric of Britain than the current crop of non dom owners with their promotion of a disastrous Brexit, attacks on institutions, and deeply divisive culture wars…
Excellent piece. With any luck some sort of News Corps/DMGT combo will ensure that the sinister Paul Marshall does not get his hands on either the Tel or Spec, though they may fall foul of monopoly concerns too. Like you I can't see what is wrong with the Red Bird/UAE bid. On the contrary, looking at those opposed to it, I instinctively think it might be a good idea. The Telegraph has gone full tonto crazy, judging from today's Jacobin Heath piece, in which he basically advocates the Tories using Farage to mobilise working and middle class fascists. I assume this is part of a wider problem, namely the recruitment of second rate Mail executives to edit every damn newspaper.
Thanks Michael. I would imagine the chances of Paul Marshall getting his hands on the Telegraph are quite high, unless the government tries to rewrite the rules on media pluralism too to help DMGT. Either way, the rein of right wing media terror looks set to continue long after the Tories have been consigned to electoral oblivion…
Britain keeps acting like it has a god given right to be a wealthy nation just because it historically has been, but I keep thinking about Argentina, they used to be a European level wealthy nation too then a series of poor economic decisions led to them becoming what they are now. There is no reason this can’t happen to the UK too and I really don’t think the British people are psychologically prepared to face this possibility and God help the country if things don’t change soon
Even with the budget last week the Tory’s didn’t even pretend to talk about the national interest, every quote, named or on background referred to how it might impact the election but not one of them spoke about why they wanted to win the election or what they wanted to do if they did win , it’s just a game for these people
Nothing this government does makes any sense. Sunak is desperate to clinch a trade deal with Indua, which has many classes the are disappointed ec if her, but his father-in- law and wife have benefited from millions of pounds worth of contracts to Infosys. Yet an Arab can't own shares. Are they going to do anything about our press whicht is owned by Lord Rothmere, a non-dom, and Murdoch, an American? I think not.
Very astute analysis. I’m concerned about all the private non-dom individuals owning our press too. But I doubt the government will do anything about them.
This tawdry business smacks of the right wing of the Tory Party protecting its in house news sheets (DT and Spectator) above all else. So much for the free market.
Yes, even if Abu Dhabi had got control of the Telegraph (which, as I say, was a complete misrepresentation of the proposed deal), it is hard to imagine it could have inflicted greater damage to the social and political fabric of Britain than the current crop of non dom owners with their promotion of a disastrous Brexit, attacks on institutions, and deeply divisive culture wars…
Excellent piece. With any luck some sort of News Corps/DMGT combo will ensure that the sinister Paul Marshall does not get his hands on either the Tel or Spec, though they may fall foul of monopoly concerns too. Like you I can't see what is wrong with the Red Bird/UAE bid. On the contrary, looking at those opposed to it, I instinctively think it might be a good idea. The Telegraph has gone full tonto crazy, judging from today's Jacobin Heath piece, in which he basically advocates the Tories using Farage to mobilise working and middle class fascists. I assume this is part of a wider problem, namely the recruitment of second rate Mail executives to edit every damn newspaper.
Thanks Michael. I would imagine the chances of Paul Marshall getting his hands on the Telegraph are quite high, unless the government tries to rewrite the rules on media pluralism too to help DMGT. Either way, the rein of right wing media terror looks set to continue long after the Tories have been consigned to electoral oblivion…
Britain keeps acting like it has a god given right to be a wealthy nation just because it historically has been, but I keep thinking about Argentina, they used to be a European level wealthy nation too then a series of poor economic decisions led to them becoming what they are now. There is no reason this can’t happen to the UK too and I really don’t think the British people are psychologically prepared to face this possibility and God help the country if things don’t change soon
Even with the budget last week the Tory’s didn’t even pretend to talk about the national interest, every quote, named or on background referred to how it might impact the election but not one of them spoke about why they wanted to win the election or what they wanted to do if they did win , it’s just a game for these people
like the use of 'nixing'....unusual! ( from Old High German).
Nothing this government does makes any sense. Sunak is desperate to clinch a trade deal with Indua, which has many classes the are disappointed ec if her, but his father-in- law and wife have benefited from millions of pounds worth of contracts to Infosys. Yet an Arab can't own shares. Are they going to do anything about our press whicht is owned by Lord Rothmere, a non-dom, and Murdoch, an American? I think not.
Indeed, naked protectionism of the sort that these self-styled Thatcherites would deplore in any other industry.