Lib Dems move to quash sell-out law allowing foreign stakes in UK newspapers

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Following the revelation that the Labour Government will legislate to allow foreign states to own up to 15% of British newspapers, the Liberal Democrats will move to dismantle the new rules via a Fatal Motion – a rare parliamentary device that would permanently halt the law’s progression.

The Government’s new plans to allow foreign states to own up to 15% has been met with outcry across the industry and by the Liberal Democrats, who have called the move an “insult” to the “centuries-old” freedom of the press championed in Britain.

The move by Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, reneges on previous legislation passed in 2024 intended to prevent foreign ownership, control or influence over UK newspapers and news magazines. Those measures, contained in the Digital Markets and Competition Bill, received cross-party support.

The Lib Dems have pledged to table a Fatal Motion in the House of Lords to halt the passage of the new legislation that would allow foreign stakes in UK newspapers. The device, though rare, has the power to kill off the legislation outright, forcing the Government to scrap their plan to sell out British papers to foreign states.

The motion would have enough votes to pass if the Conservatives chose to back it. The Conservatives in the Lords voted for Fatal Motions that successfully halted Government legislation when they were last in opposition before 2010, research from the House of Lords Library shows.

Max Wilkinson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, said:

“Our free press is the cornerstone of British democracy – it can never be for sale to foreign powers.

“In 2024, it seemed there was cross-party consensus on this. But just as we’ve seen with their approach to copyright protections and AI, Labour are demonstrating they are willing to put at risk one of this nation’s great assets.

“This move insults all of those working to maintain the centuries-old British value of press freedom. It must be reversed.”

Lord Chris Fox, the Liberal Democrat Business and Trade Spokesperson in the House of Lords, said:

“Our newspapers need certainty that their editorial independence won’t be swayed by foreign powers buying up stakes in their business.

“It’s one of the most important values we have here in Britain – and the Government reversing a ban on foreign stakes in the UK press agreed just last year pulls the rug out from many who thought they had a final decision from the Government.

“We’ll be tabling a fatal motion to stop this misguided move to sell out our press freedoms.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Lords Library research shows that the Conservatives in the Lords voted multiple times in favour of successful fatal motions last time they were in opposition: on gambling regulations in 2007 and on rules for Greater London elections in 2000. See paragraph 2.2 from p7 here: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2016-0001/LLN-2016-0001.pdf