Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on Karen Bradley’s statement on the Sky/Fox merger, said:

“There are no surprises in the statement today.

“Referring the bid to a phase two inquiry by the CMA is the Government doing just the bare minimum. If the Government now accepts further undertakings in lieu instead it will throw the integrity of this process into question. 

“Ofcom’s finding that the Murdochs remain fit and proper to hold a broadcasting licence, despite ‘significant corporate failure’ at Fox News, is disappointing. If the executives who ran a company involved in systematic and widespread criminality, including phone hacking and police bribery, can pass the fit and proper test, it begs the question – is the test itself fit for purpose? 

“If Karen Bradley really wants the facts then part two of the Leveson Inquiry must go ahead to investigate the corporate governance failures that allowed the phone hacking scandal to take place.

“It’s clear the rules need to be reviewed and the next Labour government will look again at the laws governing media ownership in this country. 

“The General Election result last month shows the Murdoch media empire can no longer deliver Tory majorities. So the Government has nothing to lose. It must not let this bid proceed.”