THE Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox corporation made a formal £11.7 billion takeover bid for broadcaster Sky yesterday, prompting fears that the right-wing tycoon will tighten his media monopoly.

The proposal comes five years after Mr Murdoch attempted to take full control of Sky through his News Corporation, a bid which was derailed after the latter company became embroiled in the phone-hacking scandal.

However, pressure is now piling on Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, who has until Christmas to decide whether to refer the deal to communications regulator Ofcom.

National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet called for the deal to be halted until the second part of the Leveson inquiry into media phone-hacking has been held.

She added: “We need greater plurality in our media, not an ever-further toxic consolidation of power and control.”