This changes everything. As Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in the House in his statement this afternoon, News Corporation has withdrawn its proposed “undertakings in lieu” in relation to BSkyB. These were its undertakings, for instance “spinning off” Sky News to make it independent, and protect it from News Corp dominance.
Since it was that package of undertakings that led Hunt to say he was minded to let the deal through, it follows that he must now refer the bid to the Competition Commission. He is free to do so purely on grounds of media plurality. There can be no accusation that he’s acted unlawfully or departed from the proper legal procedure.
