Opinion and reporting by Mathew Carr
June 2-4, 2025 — British politicians are using media ownership rules to exploit and control voting taxpayers in modern Britain.
It’s the only conclusion I can come to after attending the Media Democracy conference on Saturday, in London.
Harking back to the time when the church was used to control people, UK PM Keir Starmer’s administration appears to be happy to do what the people controlling him (not voters) want him to do, even if it means that Nigel Farage becomes PM in 2029. The Tories were exploiting and pressuring the media to try to control the news agenda before Starmer.
It goes a few ways. The politicians seek to control the media to stay in power. The global and national financial elite place pressure on politicians to make sure their financial interests and political power to control institutions, the law and the judiciary/police (often via secret societies like the Freemasons) are not eroded.
Shadowy global groups such as the World Economic Forum, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission also wield financial and political power without much robust media scrutiny.
All of these gang up on ordinary people/taxpayers. They are in cahoots.
Why am I now so sure the media ownership rules are at least substantially to blame?
No one is sticking up for taxpayers/readers/viewers … because ….inequality is widening, the wealthy are not being taxed properly, banks, insurers and hedge funds are extracting enormous middle-man fees while adding questionable value, injustices against ordinary people run on for decades, warmongering is rife and climate and nature is being destroyed.
Who are these people, these puppeteers causing the badness and who are pushing Starmer and other politicians to underpin the corrupt status quo that allows all this fuckery?
A good place to start looking are amid the owners and controllers of British media, who can be largely counted on a couple of hands.
See this new underplayed report on media ownership in Britain and see why it matters to you.
To be sure, I’m not saying the following people in the pictures immediately below this text are corrupt … but the police, regulators and people looking for the treasonists, the propagandists, the disinformation pushers, warmongers and thieves should speak to/interrogate these people and probably break up their empires to force more competitive tension in the market for ideas and public discourse.
Social media algorithms are also pushing the same interests of the richest 0.1% of the global population. The UK and Europe …and the rest …need much tougher media rules to ensure diversity of voice and ownership. The whole non-US world should impose 50% tariffs on Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Meta, Alphabet, Uber, X, Spotify, AI companies (etc) …so these rapacious middle-man companies are forced to compete properly — at the moment they add little value and exploit the real value adders — eg creatives.
Competition rules could force divestment and eliminate conflicts of interest.
Donald Trump is right that dramatic regulatory proposals are needed to force the collapse and the rebuilding of much of the world’s markets, trade structures, economies, institutions and society — including the media landscape….to finally start a GENUINE attempt to meet UN sustainable development goals set for 2030.
So far, companies and nations are only pretending to try to meet them, as they pander to rich people/owners and try to lock in market share ahead of the tighter regulation that’s hopefully coming. Note — Trump and Farage say they are for re-regulation but the evidence points to them being supportive of the status quo and for the rules that effectively hurt the ordinary people.
Europe would get its own Netflix. Africa would have its own Uber. South America would get a brand new “Amazon”… alongside its real, leafy, initial one, whose name was co-opted by a North American-based anti-competitive (arguably) and tax-avoiding global online-retail conglomerate that floods the world with unnecessary tree-killing brown cardboard boxes.
There was a fairly apparent deal between Starmer and the Murdochs at last year’s UK general election, where in return for endorsement Starmer would not massively change media ownership laws in the people’s favor (except maybe tip them even more in favor of huge funds, corporations, media oligarchs and right-wing tech bros who are against boosting economic equality among all people)…the Media Democracy Festival heard on Saturday.
The Sun, a Murdoch newspaper, endorses starmer in a blatantly anti-people, pro-oligarch move that barely anyone talks about publicly.
And this:
How did a tweak to media ownership rules help the Telegraph sale proposal, boost US interests in Britain and increase the risk Farage will become the next PM?
US interests were deemed MORE DIVERSE than UAE. Really?
It’s the US interests that have been screwing us most, I would argue. The only thing worse than being America’s enemy is being its friend.
Google Gemini AI (uncorrected): The tweak to media ownership rules significantly helped the Telegraph sale proposal by relaxing the outright ban on foreign state ownership of UK newspapers.
Here’s how it played out:
- Initial Ban: The previous Conservative government had introduced a ban on foreign state ownership of UK newspapers, citing concerns about editorial independence. This directly blocked an earlier bid for the Telegraph by RedBird IMI, a consortium backed by Abu Dhabi’s state investment vehicle, IMI. The concern was that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who effectively controlled IMI, was also the vice president of the United Arab Emirates, creating a direct link to a foreign state.
- Impasse and Lobbying: This ban created a two-year ownership vacuum for the Telegraph, as potential buyers, particularly those with foreign state backing, were effectively shut out. The newspaper industry also lobbied intensively, arguing that a complete ban could cut off a vital source of funding for an already struggling industry.
- Relaxation of Rules: The current government (Labour) relaxed these rules earlier this month. The new threshold now allows foreign state-controlled holdings of up to 15% in British national newspapers.
- Enabling the Current Deal: This change directly paved the way for the agreed “in principle” deal for the Telegraph. The consortium led by US firm RedBird Capital is now set to take control, with IMI participating as a minority investor, keeping its stake below the 15% threshold. This allows IMI to recoup its original investment while adhering to the new regulations.
In essence, the initial ban made the sale to the most interested party impossible. The subsequent relaxation of the rules, allowing a minority stake for foreign state-backed entities, provided a workable solution that enabled the sale proposal to move forward and end the ownership limbo for the Telegraph.
CarrZee: The Telegraph may end up 85% owned by US interests (?)…or the Daily Mail may end up with a chunk of that, says Chivers (see below) ?????…the anti-EU Telegraph/Daily Mail/Murdoch nexus then might be used to make Farage PM by prompting Tory (and Labour) voters to vote for Reform …a political party that’s associated with the US right, President Donald Trump and hedge funds, Wall St, giant banks and insurers.
It’s a further treasonous USA takeover of Britain.
Look at what’s happening to Poland today, Monday June 2!
More from the report
Gemini sources:
One guy who’s done a pretty good job looking into the media-ownership situation is Tom Chivers, a very clever researcher at Goldsmiths, University of London:
Here is my conversation with him Saturday
Key bit
Me: The US based nature of this is of particular interest to me because US companies, I think, get 23,000 pounds from every UK household. So US corporations, I guess that includes the military spending, but also everyday Starbucks, etc, etc, etc. So what’s the logic in allowing the US to do it, but not UAE. Have you got an answer for that?
Chivers: “It’s just it’s a complete misunderstanding by politicians about how media influence works, how ownership of the newspaper gives corporations or media moguls power over our politics.
“There is a sense that because it is an American business or a European business or an Australian business, … that’s somehow better for the markets in our media, that’s somehow better. (That) those countries somehow have a better understanding of independence and editorial accountability than other countries, which is simply not true.
“We have from … history … we’ve seen of most newspapers in the UK that are owned by Rupert Murdoch or Lord Rothermere that they do not adhere to editorial standards.
“They do interfere in the editorial independence of their papers.
“So it’s just a misunderstanding of how and why media influence is created through media. It’s not just about authoritarian states having direct state control over the media. It’s about any corporate interest or any unique private interest,” Chivers told me after the festival.
The situation where so few people decide on the news media agenda in Britain has become so bad, news consumers need to brush up on their critical-thinking skills, Sangita Myska, the broadcaster and journalist, had earlier told the festival goers.
She used her voice to push back on Israeli propaganda at LBC before being let go immediately after confronting an Israel spokesman on air:
“When only a handful of companies are in charge of the stories we read, see and listen to, we must all try to apply objective critical thinking,” she said Saturday at the festival.
Follow me (Mathew Carr) on TikTok
CarrZee: my situation (published before the festival) More to come
Story from Saturday, published after the beginning of the festival and updated slightly during and afterwards
Grok (unchecked) on DMG and the Telegraph:
Will the daily mail group end up owning the Telegraph newspaper in the UK?
The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), which owns the Daily Mail, has shown interest in acquiring the Telegraph Media Group, which publishes The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. However, as of the latest available information, DMGT is not positioned to fully own the Telegraph but has been in discussions to take a minority stake. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on recent developments:
- Background on the Telegraph Sale: The Telegraph Media Group has been in a state of ownership uncertainty since June 2023, when Lloyds Banking Group seized control due to unpaid debts of over £1 billion by the Barclay family, the previous owners. An initial attempt by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed consortium, to acquire the Telegraph was blocked by new UK legislation in March 2024, which restricts foreign state ownership of British newspapers to a 0.1% stake, later adjusted to a 15% threshold. This forced RedBird IMI to put the Telegraph back up for sale.
- DMGT’s Involvement:
- In August 2023, DMGT confirmed its interest in acquiring the Telegraph, initially exploring a bid with Middle Eastern investors but later deciding to pursue it independently due to competition concerns.
- By May 2025, DMGT, led by Lord Rothermere, was in talks to acquire a 9.9% stake in the Telegraph as part of a deal with RedBird Capital, the US-based private equity firm leading the acquisition. These discussions involved Goldman Sachs advising DMGT, with the potential for cost-sharing between the two companies while maintaining editorial independence. However, it was unclear if these talks would result in a finalized deal.
- DMGT’s earlier bid to fully acquire the Telegraph in 2023 was withdrawn due to fears of a prolonged competition inquiry, as DMGT already controls about 40% of the UK newspaper market (including the Daily Mail, Metro, and the i). Acquiring the Telegraph could push this to over 50%, raising significant concerns about media plurality and market dominance, likely triggering scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
- In August 2023, DMGT confirmed its interest in acquiring the Telegraph, initially exploring a bid with Middle Eastern investors but later deciding to pursue it independently due to competition concerns.
- Current Status of the Telegraph Sale:
- In May 2025, RedBird Capital reached an in-principle agreement to buy the Telegraph for £500 million, with plans to expand its global reach, particularly in the US. This deal is subject to a full CMA investigation.
- Other bidders, such as Dovid Efune (owner of The New York Sun) and National World’s David Montgomery, have also expressed interest, but RedBird appears to be the frontrunner. The involvement of former UK Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, initially a middleman for RedBird IMI, adds complexity, though his bid for control has not gained significant traction.
- The Spectator, previously part of the Telegraph Media Group, was sold separately to Sir Paul Marshall for £100 million in 2024, and is no longer part of the Telegraph sale.
- In May 2025, RedBird Capital reached an in-principle agreement to buy the Telegraph for £500 million, with plans to expand its global reach, particularly in the US. This deal is subject to a full CMA investigation.
- Likelihood of DMGT Owning the Telegraph:
- Full Ownership: It is highly unlikely that DMGT will fully own the Telegraph due to competition concerns. The CMA would likely block such a deal, as it would concentrate over 50% of the UK newspaper market under one publisher, raising significant issues for media plurality and democracy. Former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis and others have warned about the implications of such consolidation.
- Minority Stake: A minority stake of up to 9.9% is more plausible, as it avoids direct control and may bypass stringent regulatory hurdles. The reported £35 million investment for this stake suggests DMGT’s interest in maintaining influence without triggering a full CMA investigation. However, as of May 2025, these talks were not confirmed to have concluded successfully, and the outcome remains uncertain.
- Regulatory and Political Factors: The UK’s new ownership laws and the 15% foreign state ownership cap (set by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy) complicate any deal involving foreign investors, which DMGT previously considered. Political pressure, including from over 100 MPs opposing foreign ownership, adds further scrutiny to the sale process.
- Full Ownership: It is highly unlikely that DMGT will fully own the Telegraph due to competition concerns. The CMA would likely block such a deal, as it would concentrate over 50% of the UK newspaper market under one publisher, raising significant issues for media plurality and democracy. Former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis and others have warned about the implications of such consolidation.
- Conclusion: While DMGT is unlikely to fully own the Telegraph due to competition and regulatory barriers, it may secure a minority stake as part of RedBird Capital’s acquisition. The final outcome depends on ongoing negotiations and CMA approval. For the latest updates, check sources like The Guardian, Sky News, or the Telegraph’s own reporting on the sale process.
Ways forward
(Adds secret societies eg Freemasons, earlier wrote out the exclusive Chivers quotes, earlier updated with context.)
Note: CarrZee Win
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