Latest news with #Stg500
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark reform
The British government plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system. The government said the proposed changes, which are subject to parliament approvals, would align voting rights across the UK with Scotland and Wales, where younger voters already take part in devolved elections. "We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in a statement on Thursday. Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7 per cent, the lowest at a general election since 2001, according to a parliamentary report. According to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes, and 16-year-olds are more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18. Labour, whose popularity has fallen sharply in government after being elected by a landslide a year ago, had said it would lower the voting age if elected. The reforms would also expand acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs, such as driving licences and Veteran Cards. To tackle foreign interference, the government said it also planned to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over Stg500 ($A1000) from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark reform
The British government plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system. The government said the proposed changes, which are subject to parliament approvals, would align voting rights across the UK with Scotland and Wales, where younger voters already take part in devolved elections. "We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in a statement on Thursday. Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7 per cent, the lowest at a general election since 2001, according to a parliamentary report. According to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes, and 16-year-olds are more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18. Labour, whose popularity has fallen sharply in government after being elected by a landslide a year ago, had said it would lower the voting age if elected. The reforms would also expand acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs, such as driving licences and Veteran Cards. To tackle foreign interference, the government said it also planned to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over Stg500 ($A1000) from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies.
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
RedBird Capital-led group agrees to buy UK's Telegraph
A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying. A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
RedBird Capital-led group agrees to buy UK's Telegraph
A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
RedBird Capital-led group agrees to buy UK's Telegraph
A trans-Atlantic consortium led by RedBird Capital Partners has struck a deal to buy Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the title says, spending Stg500 million ($A1 billion) to secure control. The ownership of the right-leaning broadsheet has been in flux after the Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI bought the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine in 2023, before Britain's then government moved to ban foreign state investment in British newspapers, forcing it to sell. The Telegraph said on Friday the US private equity firm RedBird Capital, which provided a quarter of RedBird IMI's funding, was moving to take direct control and was expected to be joined in the ownership group by British media investors. The ownership of the Telegraph, one of Britain's best known newspapers which strongly backed the country's vote to leave the European Union, has raised questions about the independence of the media and foreign states buying political influence. Britain's previous Conservative government in 2024 banned foreign state investment in British newspapers, blocking RedBird IMI, run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and with the majority of its funding from Abu Dhabi, from owning the Telegraph. However, the Labour government said earlier in May that it proposed to allow foreign state-owned investors to own up to 15 per cent of British newspaper publishers. The Telegraph said no final agreements were in place and regulatory hurdles would loom. "We believe the UK is a great place to invest, and this acquisition is an important part of RedBird's growing portfolio of media and entertainment companies in the UK," Gerry Cardinale, the founder of the US private equity firm, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
