Cameron insists he will have no role in reviewing UAE-backed Telegraph takeover

Downing Street has released details of David Cameron's links to the United Arab Emirates, which may be «relevant» to his role. Photo: Mohamed Hossam/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Lord Cameron said he would play «no role» in the government's review of the UAE-backed takeover of The Telegraph following questions about his past links to the United Arab Emirates.
The Foreign Secretary said consideration of the Abu Dhabi takeover was entirely a matter for Lucy Fraser, the culture secretary.

His remarks came after Downing Street released details of the former prime minister's links to United Arab Emirates, which could have «influence» on his role.

Ethics adviser Rishi Sunak included Mr Cameron's role as a visiting professor at New York University Abu Dhabi in a list of ministerial interests published earlier in December.

The university said in 2019 that «the government Abu Dhabi will bear the costs associated with the New York University Abu Dhabi campus.»

The list of ministers' financial interests was published weeks after it emerged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had intervened to «soften» the government's letter about the attempted takeover of The Telegraph UAE, which is being reviewed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS). .

At the time, the ministry said: “It is standard practice for the Foreign Office to provide advice to other UK government departments when dealing with governments overseas.”

Asked in an interview whether he would have any objection to a foreign government owning a British newspaper, Lord Cameron said: “I don't go into that at all. This is a quasi-judicial matter for the DCMS Secretary. I won't have any role in this at all.»

Ms Fraser intervened in November to stop RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed fund, from taking control of The Telegraph within days amid concerns censorship and a foreign state. influence.

A number of Tory MPs have raised concerns about the planned takeover, along with the Liberal Democrats and Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6.

In December it emerged that Jeff Zucker, a former CNN executive, heading RedBird IMI had rejected a plan to reduce the share of Abu Dhabi's cash behind the takeover and ease concerns about press freedom.

Lord Cameron lectured on politics at New York University's Abu Dhabi branch for three weeks. January.

He taught students a course on the «age of change» with topics such as migration and Ukraine, according to the state newspaper The National. The list does not indicate how much Lord Cameron was paid.

An analysis of tax returns by the NYU News student newspaper in 2019 found that the campus was «entirely funded by the government of the United Arab Emirates.»

Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister's independent adviser on ministerial interests, said criteria for inclusion on his list included «recent previous work that could be perceived as relevant to their ministerial portfolio».