UK minister loses media role on Murdoch comments
Post date: Dec 21, 2010 6:44:34 PM
British Business Minister Vince Cable is stripped of media responsibility in cabinet but remains in cabinet after "war" on remarks made about Rupert Murdoch.
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 21, 2010) ITN - British Business Secretary Vince Cable lost power to police the media sector but remained in government on Tuesday (December 21) after making critical comments about News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch, the prime minister's office said.
Prime Minister David Cameron regarded Cable's comments as "unacceptable and inappropriate", the office said after the minister was taped telling undercover reporters that he had "declared war" on Murdoch.The Department of Culture will take charge of media regulation including News Corp's bid to take full control of pay TV operator BSkyB.
News Corp wants to buy the 61 percent of BSkyB it does not already own for 7.8 billion pounds ($12.2 billion) to consolidate the business it helped build.
The European Commission on Tuesday granted unconditional approval for the bid, putting the ball back in Britain's court.
Sixty-seven year-old Cable is one of the best known members of the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the Conservative-led government which took office in May.
His sacking would have risked destabilising a coalition which has mapped out a tough austerity programme.
In comments originally made to two undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph newspaper and obtained by the BBC, Cable said: "I have declared war on Mr Murdoch and I think we are going to win".
Talking about the bid, Cable said, "I have blocked it using the powers that I have got and they are legal powers that I have got," according to the recording. I can't politicise it but from the people that know what is happening this is a big, big thing."
News Corp, which owns British newspapers The Sun, News of the World, Times and Sunday Times, reacted swiftly.
"News Corporation is shocked and dismayed at the reports of Mr Cable's comments. They raise serious questions about fairness and due process," it said in a statement.