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10 July 2011

Ed Miliband attempts to block BSkyB deal

The Labour leader calls for a cross-party vote on delaying Murdoch's take-over bid.

By Daniel Trilling

Ed Miliband will try and force a Commons vote on Wednesday to block Rupert Murdoch’s take-over of BSkyB. The Labour leader announced the plan on this morning’s Andrew Marr Show. The Observer has more details, reporting that Miliband is seeking cross-party support for a motion that will ask for the take-over bid to be delayed until the criminal investigation into the News of the World has been completed.

If the vote is successful, this could force the deal to be abandoned. As LabourList comments, many – including executives at News International – will see this as a declaration of “war” by Miliband on Murdoch’s media empire. It is also an opportunity for Miliband to put further pressure on the Prime Minister:

A source close to Ed Miliband told LabourList that “we are incredulous that David Cameron thinks he can press on with this takeover or have an NHS style delay.” They also sought so stress their view that Cameron shows “no sign of understanding the breadth of this crisis or the depth of public anger.”

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