Nigel Farage has urged Rishi Sunak to ensure that David Cameron plays no role in the sale of The Telegraph because of his ties to Abu Dhabi.
Lord Cameron, recently brought back into the Government as Foreign Secretary, has lectured as a visiting professor at New York University’s campus in the United Arab Emirates capital.
The Telegraph is subject to a takeover bid by RedBird IMI, a company funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE vice-president.
However, it emerged last month that the Foreign Office had intervened to “soften” the language in a Government letter about the attempted takeover, and Number 10 has not revealed whether Lord Cameron will recuse himself from the issue.
Mr Farage, the former Brexit Party leader who is now the honorary president of Reform UK, said Mr Sunak must keep Lord Cameron away from any discussions on the sale.
Writing for The Telegraph, he said Lord Cameron could not claim to be “objective”, adding: “Given his links to the UAE, including his recent role as lecturer in politics at New York University’s Abu Dhabi operation, which is bankrolled by the UAE, he can hardly claim to be an objective player in this matter.
“Equally worrying are the reports that Foreign Office officials last month watered down the language used in a letter written by Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary – who has set up a public interest investigation into the takeover – to the bidders. They must have been concerned the original version might have offended the Sheikh [Mansour].
“If Rishi Sunak has any sense, he will keep the accident-prone David Cameron well away from any more accusations of sleaze.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
