Telegraph bidder reported for potential breach of editorial independence rules

"The boss of the US private equity group bidding for the Daily Telegraph has been reported to the UK government for potentially breaching rules protecting the newspaper's editorial independence, after allegedly threatening to go to war with the title's newsroom. The Guardian understands that the independent directors of Telegraph Media Group (TMG) have alerted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) about supposed comments made by RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale to the Telegraph's editor, Chris Evans."

"The title's former editor Charles Moore disclosed in his Telegraph column last month that inquiries by the paper's journalists into RedBird Capital's bid had prompted Cardinale to threaten he would go to war with our entire newsroom. Moore added there had been apparent media briefings that Evans would be removed and replaced as editor although that was followed up by a column the Telegraph published by Cardinale last week."

"Last year the government introduced a statutory instrument compelling parties to take all reasonable steps to retain key staff within the Telegraph Media Group business and to ensure that no key staff are removed from their position. The order added: At all times, the acquiring entities must keep the secretary of state informed of any material developments relating to the Telegraph Media Group business, which includes details of key staff who leave or join the Telegraph Media Group business."

Independent directors of Telegraph Media Group alerted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about alleged comments by RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale to the Telegraph editor. Former editor Charles Moore disclosed that inquiries into RedBird's bid prompted Cardinale to threaten to "go to war" with the newsroom and that there were apparent media briefings about removing the editor. Cardinale subsequently published a column denying any intent to influence editorial independence. The DCMS is considering whether legislation protecting the Telegraph's editorial independence has been breached. A statutory instrument requires retaining key staff and notifying the secretary of state of material developments.

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