Jeremy Hunt, UK Culture Secretary, admitted that whatever decision he took on referring the News Corp BSkyB bid to the Competition Commission it was bound to be judicially challenged by the ‘losing’ side.

He refused to give a timetable for his decision but said: “”This is a very, very hot potato and I’m aware of what happens if you hold a hot potato in your hand for too long.”

He was speaking at a Media Society debate at the LSE. The debate was interrupted for 20 minutes by students protesting about tuition fees.

Hunt has been advised recently not to take representations from either side ahead of his decision as this may prejudice the outcome. It is thought Sky are keen to offer ‘pre-emptive’ remedies to competition concerns in the same way they did with the European Commission.

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