Will the government vote to veto foreign press ownership?

At about 4 p.m. this afternoon, the government is expected to break its silence on the UAE-backed bid for the Telegraph and The Spectator. Ministers have until now been quiet, saying they didn’t want to prejudge the inquiry process, but a rebellion from both houses and all parties in parliament has focused ministerial minds. The question is whether ‘foreign powers’, as defined by the National Security Act, should be allowed to own newspapers in whole or in part. And whether parliament should have the power of veto.

Tina Stowell, a Tory peer, has drafted an amendment to the Digital Markets Bill that would, if passed, give parliament this power. She has cross-benchers and Lib Dems behind her and Labour is likely to abstain. Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, says he now has about 150 Tory MPs willing to push it through the Commons if needs be.