All eyes were on the House of Lords this afternoon where it is the second reading of the Media Bill. Lord Forsyth, the former Scotland Secretary, has tabled what is known as a ‘motion to regret’ – a device which allows peers to express their opposition to legislation without stopping it. Forsyth’s ire had been sparked by the failure of the Bill to include a motion banning the ownership and control by foreign governments of British newspapers. It comes as the Emirati government is seeking to buy both the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, via an investment vehicle called Redbird IMI.

In his speech this afternoon, Forsyth criticised those who suggested that the Emirati state would have no editorial control over these organs of public opinion. He told his fellow peers ‘We have a saying in Scotland: he who pays the piper, calls the tune’ and suggested that the huge sums involved did not ‘strike me as an investment opportunity’ but rather as ‘being an influence opportunity.’ Forsyth asked in his peroration:

Does the government really believe that it can be right for a country, a government of a country like the UAE, which has a dreadful record on censorship and editorial influence, which is noted for its threats to free expression and accurate presentation of news, a country that locks journalists up because they say things with which they disagree, a country which is listed, I believe, 145 out of 180 countries on the freedom index? Is it really going to be our role as a nation and our government, that they achieve the distinction of being the first country in the world to allow a quality newspaper with a large readership to be owned by a foreign government?

His conclusion was met with noises of approval on all sides of the House. Baroness Stowell of Beeston, who has also tabled an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, added: ‘We need to have confidence in our media. Having foreign governments own such a critical and sensitive part of our nation is not only unnecessary and troubling; if it was allowed to happen it would undermine public confidence in our free press.’

You can watch the full speech below: