Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on Karen Bradley’s announcement that she has today referred the Sky bid to Ofcom, said:

“Intervening in this proposed merger was the only legitimate course of action for Karen Bradley to take.

"It is right that Ofcom applies a ‘fit and proper’ assessment to the bid and considers any public interest test, in addition to concerns about plurality and broadcasting standards.

“But a comprehensive fit and proper test will take time, so that all of the Murdochs’ failures of corporate governance during the phone hacking scandal and elsewhere can be properly investigated.

"The only way to get all of the evidence Ofcom needs to make this assessment is to go ahead with part two of the Leveson Inquiry - as David Cameron promised to the victims of phone hacking. If the Government was really committed to the fullest investigation of this bid, they would commence it immediately.”