Early day motion · EDM 1522 · 20 Jun 2025

Press ownership by foreign states

Tabled by Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat) 64 signatures

The motion

That this House recognises that a free press is the cornerstone of our democracy; understands that holding power to account relies on journalistic independence and editorial freedom; notes with concern that foreign state ownership of national newspapers risks allowing foreign states to undermine the independence and integrity of British journalism; further recognises that the Government’s proposed 15% non-cumulative threshold opens the door to foreign state influence in our press; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to remove the right of foreign states to own any part of the British news media ecosystem immediately.