The Hindu : Shift in U.K. paper's loyalties?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

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International

Shift in U.K. paper's loyalties?

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN 20. In what is being described as a `seismic' shift in its political loyalties, The Daily Telegraph is likely to switch support to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, under its new ownership, dealing a huge blow to the Conservative Party which has been its `natural' constituency for more than 100 years.

The Barclay brothers, who are poised to take it over from the right-wing Conrad Black under a £260 million deal, have indicated that the paper would cease to be the "house organ" of the Conservative Party at a time when it desperately needs a high-profile cheer-leader in the national media.

David Barclay, one of the twin brothers who would be The Daily Telegraph's new owners, has pointedly recalled the pro-Blair stand of another of his newspapers, The Scotsman, in the last general election and said: "We were very happy about that."

Asked specifically whether it would continue to be the house-organ of the Tories, he told The Guardian: "Certainly not."

The change of guard is the biggest media ownership shake-up in Britain since Rupert Murdoch bought up The Times group of newspapers more than three decades ago.

If the deal, which is yet to be cleared by the Government's media regulatory body, Ofcom, goes through, it would give the Barclay brothers the second biggest share of Britain's national newspaper market after Mr. Murdoch.

The brothers, who already own The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, the Edinburgh Evening News and The Business, have Tory leanings but are known to keep a low profile in sharp contrast to the "hands-on" Lord Black who got even his wife to write a controversial column in The Daily Telegraph.

"We don't interfere. We hope our editors will reflect the feelings of the public," Sir David said.

His remarks sent a chill through Britain's right-wing establishment which has regarded The Telegraph as its sole flag-bearer among the country's serious national broadsheets.

The Tories will sorely miss its support in the run-up to the general elections, expected next year, though they were trying to put on a brave face today saying that Sir David's statement may have been simply intended to soften the Government to get the deal through.

Under the surprise deal, the Barclay brothers would acquire a majority stake in the newspaper's holding company Hollinger Inc., paving the way for a takeover of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator magazine.

This follows allegations of serious financial irregularities against Lord Black who is being investigated by the American financial watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lord Black, who was ousted as chairman of The Telegraph's parent company at the weekend, is also embroiled in a legal battle with the company over his conduct.

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