THE GUARDIAN: Sir Richard Dearlove says the deal would be a ‘profound security concern’ and urges ministers to stop it
The former head of MI6 has labelled the planned Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper as “completely unacceptable” and a “profound security concern”.
Sir Richard Dearlove said an authoritarian state acquiring an influential newspaper poses a risk to the UK and its democracy, and urged ministers to intervene and block the deal.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Dearlove told the government to “put a peg in the ground and say no way” to the sale of the newspaper to the fund backed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates.
“It’s completely inappropriate for an autocratic state – even at arm’s length – to be the owner of The Telegraph and The Spectator,” he said.
“It’s just really I think completely unacceptable as a matter of principle, even if they’re saying they will guarantee complete editorial freedom.” » | Robyn Vinter | Sunday, December 10, 2023
