The government is expected to commit to banning foreign governments from owning British newspapers and magazines, effectively blocking an Abu Dhabi-led takeover of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph and Spectator magazine.

Sky News understands the commitment will see the government pledge to ban the foreign state ownership, influence or control of newspapers and news magazines in the UK.

The commitment, expected to be set out in the House of Lords this afternoon, will come in an amendment to the third reading of the Digital Markets Act, currently making its way through Parliament.

The move comes as peers prepare to debate an amendment, brought by Baroness Stowell, calling for the banning of foreign state ownership in response to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph titles by Redbird-IMI, a US-Abu Dhabi joint venture 75% owned by Sheick Mansour, vice president of the United Arab Emirates.

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