GOVERNMENT PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA

Early day motion 16, tabled 24 November 1998 by Peter Bottomley (Conservative). Signed by 1 member.

That this House asks the Prime Minister to establish an inquiry into the possibility that improper pressure to sack editors or journalists has been applied by Government or Labour spin doctors to newspaper proprietors needing Department of Trade and Industry ministerial approvals; believes the article 'Surely, Lord Hollick is not going to try to please Mr Mandelson again' by Stephen Glover in The Spectator, 21st November deserves investigation, confirmation or denial as to whether the Prime Minister, his chief press spokesman or the Secretary of State or his helpers had any formal or informal contact with those responsible for The Express on Sunday about the staffing of the paper; notes the speculation linking the parent group of Express newspapers with Arsenal Football Club; and, remembering the exercise by the DTI of regulatory and competition responsibilities over the proposed link between Manchester United and Sky, calls on the Prime Minister to transfer DTI responsibilities relating to the interests of Lord Hollick and the owners of Express newspaper to another member of the Cabinet during the inquiry.

Signatures by party: Conservative 1.