The Government should review whether Alexander Lebedev is fit to own the Evening Standard, an MP has said in today’s Times.
Richard Ottaway MP, in a letter to the paper, wrote: ‘There is a long history of concern over the ownership of newspapers in this country, but ownership of a UK newspaper by a former member of a foreign security service takes the debate to a new level.
‘The Enterprise Act 2002 provides for public interest considerations to be taken into account in the acquisition of newspapers.
‘It is appropriate for the Government to review whether this acquisition of the Evening Standard raises these public interest considerations.”
Mr Ottaway raised similar concerns in parliament yesterday.
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