The sale of the Telegraph Media Group has been thrown into fresh turmoil after the company's own newspaper linked its presumed new owner to a senior Chinese Communist party official suspected of leading an alleged spy ring in Westminster.
Wednesday's edition of the Daily Telegraph published a 2024 photograph of John Thornton, chair of RedBird Capital Partners, shaking hands with Cai Qi, a senior member of the Chinese Communist party's ruling politburo. Cai has been described as the top lieutenant of China's president, Xi Jinping, and has been revealed as the suspect receiving British political intelligence that formed part of a collapsed Chinese spying prosecution.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, called on Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to trigger an investigation under media freedom laws, stating: 'The meeting between John Thornton and Cai Qi is a red flag and a serious one.' He added that the risk of undue Chinese influence is 'overwhelming' and supported by formal legal opinion.
RedBird Capital is acquiring Telegraph Media Group from RedBird IMI, a connected organisation that was forced to sell the titles in spring 2024 after the previous government blocked foreign states from owning UK newspaper assets. The Labour government later eased the ban, allowing foreign states to hold up to 15% stakes, paving the way for RedBird's offer that would see Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments retain a 15% stake.
A RedBird Capital spokesperson denied any Chinese influence, stating: 'RedBird's funds are backed by a diverse group of leading global blue-chip institutional investors and family offices which do not include any institutions or individuals from China.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment, citing a 'quasi-judicial process'.
