Branson warns of Murdoch’s political power
Matthew:
November 22nd, 2006
Richard Branson has told reporters he will be writing to the Office of Fair Trading regarding Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV. Although it is likely that Branson’s complaint is something of a cot-rattling manoeuvre following ITV’s rejection of a bid from NTL, he raises an important issue.
Although his claim that ‘we might as well just let Murdoch choose our Prime Minister’ is slightly overstated, we must examine exactly what influence Mr Murdoch may have on our democracy, and the paradox of a government intervention with the intention of securing the freedom of the press.
Although we mercifully aren’t yet in the grip of a Berlusconi-stlye political/media juggernaut, we shouldn’t be scared to stand up to Murdoch’s growing power, otherwise soon we won’t be able to.