Most Britons support new proposed legislation that foreign governments would be banned from owning UK newspapers and news magazines, shows latest GLPOR survey.

The U.K. said it would ban foreign governments from owning newspapers and magazines in the country, fueling an international debate about overseas influence on both traditional media and social platforms such as TikTok. The decision follows concern over the proposed takeover of The Telegraph newspaper and The Spectator magazine by a United Arab Emirates-linked firm backed by Emirati Vice President Sheikh Mansour. Members of the ruling Conservative Party — who have a close relationship with The Telegraph and The Spectator, both right-leaning outlets — had expressed fear the deal would jeopardize editorial independence. Culture minister Lord Stephen Parkinson said the law would not extend to broadcast media, but added that the bill’s target is specifically “foreign state ownership,” which would exclude overseas companies like Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp from operating newspapers in the U.K.

Proposed new legislation means that foreign governments would be banned from owning UK newspapers and news magazines. Would you support or oppose this ban?

According to latest GLPOR survey 48 % of Britons strongly support new proposed legislation that foreign governments would be banned from owning UK newspapers and news magazines, compared to 2 % who strongly oppose, 29 % tend to support, 4 % tend to oppose and 17 % don’t know.

Sample size: 19467 adults in the UK

Fledwork: 14 March – 12 April 2024