Telegraph Media Group: Ownership

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Excerpts

Thursday 16th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Secretary of State’s consideration is for her alone. However, noble Lords will be aware that it is possible to have cases of this nature considered under the National Security and Investment Act if the transaction is deemed to raise national security concerns.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, we know from the witness statements released overnight that the Deputy National Security Adviser considers that China

“presents the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security”,

but also that the present Government are

“committed to pursuing a positive economic relationship”

with it. Given that, and not in relation to the case under consideration but in general terms, can the Minister tell us what sort of percentage stake in a British newspaper the Government would be comfortable with a Chinese state investor obtaining?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I will not go into hypothetical examples. All the instances raised would be examined on a case-by-case basis. The noble Lord will be aware that we are deeply disappointed that the case he referenced has not gone to trial; we really did want to see prosecutions.