What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Rupert Murdoch's bid to take over Sky was today cleared by the UK government after more than a year of legal wrangling.

Tory ministers formally cleared the bid by 21st Century Fox - opening the gates on a bidding war between the firm and Comcast, which has put in a rival bid.

MPs previously heard the takeover could lead to "increased influence of the Murdoch family trust on public opinion and the UK’s political agenda".

But newly-appointed Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said the bid would now be allowed following pledges to safeguard the independence of Sky News.

(Image: REUTERS)

The bidding war now steps up a gear just a day after Fox hiked its bid to £24.5billion - followed by Comcast raising its offer to £26 billion.

All eyes will now turn to Fox to see if it will increase its offer for the 61% of Sky that it does not already own.

Fox was previously told approval came with a major condition - that Sky News is "divested" (offloaded) to a third party to ensure its independence.

The Competition and Markets Authority provisionally blocked the Fox bid in January due to fears it would hand the media mogul too much control.

(Image: Getty)

Fox has since been attempting to address the concerns through remedies, including plans to sell Sky News to Disney.

In a written statement, Mr Wright said: "The publication of the undertakings marks the final stage of the public interest consideration of this case."

He added: "It is now a matter for the Sky shareholders to decide whether to accept 21 Century Fox's bid.

Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson said the government had "caved in", adding: "Media power and ownership in this country has been concentrated in the hands of a few individuals for too long.

"This decision stands to make that worse.

"Undertakings might have been given, but the Murdoch’s track record of broken promises shouldn’t be forgotten. Unfortunately it seems today that it has been.”