The UK government is set to introduce new legislation aimed at preventing foreign governments from owning newspapers and news magazines in the country. This significant move could impact the £600 million sale of the Telegraph to a consortium backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The consortium in question, RedBird IMI, is a partnership between a fund supported by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the UAE, and a privately owned US investment firm. The acquisition of one of the UK’s most influential newspaper groups has stirred strong opposition from numerous Tory MPs and peers. They have raised concerns about the Gulf state’s record on press freedom and its potential influence on UK media.

On Wednesday, in a statement in the House of Lords, media minister Lord Stephen Parkinson announced that the government plans to introduce an amendment to block foreign state ownership of newspapers or news magazines. This legislative change is designed to safeguard the independence and integrity of the British press.

If enacted, the new law is expected to halt the planned purchase of the Telegraph by RedBird IMI, reflecting the government’s commitment to maintaining domestic control over its media outlets. The move underscores the UK’s stance on protecting press freedom and ensuring that its media remains free from foreign state influence.