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The Observer: Buy Outs

Asked by Saqib BhattiConservativeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 20 January 2025UIN 24264

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) the Guardian Media Group and (b) Tortoise Media on the proposed buyout of the Observer newspaper.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock

It would be inappropriate to comment on any live merger case. As is clear under the Enterprise Act, this is a quasi-judicial process for the DCMS Secretary of State alone to exercise the statutory powers based on the evidence and following the established regulatory process. If there are any updates to report, Parliament will be informed in the usual way.

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