Labour

Changes at the top of BSkyB should not distract from structural problems of media ownership - Harman

Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on the news that James Murdoch has resigned as chairman of BSkyB, said:

“Changes at the top of BSkyB should not distract us from the fundamental, structural problems of media ownership.

“Murdoch owns too many newspapers. Never again must we allow any individual or organisation to acquire such a concentration of power when it comes to media ownership.

“The problems revealed by the Leveson Inquiry are a result of the absence of a proper complaints system and too great a concentration of media power. It is this combination of impunity and invincibility which lies at the heart of the problem and must be addressed.

“We await the forthcoming reports from Ofcom, the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee and the Leveson Inquiry, but it is clear that there is a fundamental problem of monopolistic ownership.”