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Phone Hacking

The problem we face is that we have a set of rules concerning competition policy, plurality and ““fit and proper”” tests that are all laid down in the law and have to be carried out by Ofcom, the competition authorities and, indeed, the Secretary of State. He has to obey the law—and these laws were, largely, put in place by the previous Government. The Competition Commission will look at this; it will take its time, but it cannot take for ever in making its recommendation. Then there will be a decision for the Secretary of State. We cannot do anything but obey the law, but what we are doing today—what the leaders of the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats and I are all doing—is making a clear statement about our opinion by saying to this business, ““You can't go on pursuing a merger when you ought to be dealing with the mess you've got in your own business””, and I think that is the best thing to do.