The UK government must investigate The Telegraph newspaper’s sale to US investment group RedBird Capital and the risks of China’s influence, human rights and freedom of expression groups demanded Wednesday.
An open letter addressed to UK media minister Lisa Nandy, signed by nine organisations including Human Rights in China and Hong Kong Watch, alleged “RedBird Capital’s ties to China … threaten media pluralism, transparency, and information integrity in the UK”.
RedBird Capital chair John Thornton sits on the advisory council of the China Investment Corporation, the country’s largest sovereign wealth fund, the letter noted.
In May RedBird agreed to buy the Telegraph Media Group (TMG), comprising the 170-year-old paper’s print and online operations, for £500 million (US$678 million).
Wednesday’s letter provides a new twist to The Telegraph takeover saga, already marked by UK government intervention over foreign press influence.
US-Emirati consortium RedBird IMI, comprising Redbird Capital, struck a deal for TMG in late 2023.
However, the previous UK government triggered a swift resale amid concern over the potential impact on freedom of speech given Abu Dhabi’s press censorship record.
“Pending robust investigations, the (new) planned merger should be placed on hold,” NGOs, including also Article 19 and Free Tibet, stated in Wednesday’s letter.
“We believe that there is reasonable ground to suspect the Telegraph acquisition by RedBird Capital raises both public interest and potential foreign media influence concerns,” it added.
RedBird Capital Partners rejected accusations of China’s influence.
“There is no Chinese involvement or influence in RedBird Capital’s proposed acquisition of the Telegraph,” a spokesperson said in a statement emailed to AFP.
“After two years of regulatory limbo, it is now time to close this acquisition and finally position The Telegraph for growth.”
The UK government had yet to respond.
