Labour called yesterday for a full probe into Rupert Murdoch’s Sky takeover bid by the competition watchdog.

It followed Culture Minister Karen Bradley’s announcement that Fox’s £11.7 billion plan will be put before the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Mr Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is attempting to acquire the 61 per cent of Sky it does not already own.

Ms Bradley has referred the merger for an investigation on grounds of media plurality and broadcasting standards, though she will make the final decision.

Claims about misconduct at Fox News in the US will be looked at by the CMA. They include alleged racial and sexual harassment, and the fabrication of quotes relating to the unsolved murder of a US Democratic National Committee aide.

Labour’s shadow culture secretary Tom Watson MP said: “We now need a comprehensive CMA investigation that looks at all relevant evidence, including historic corporate governance failures at News International and more recent failures at Fox in America.”

Josef Davies-Coates, national organiser for the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, welcomed the referral, but warned: “The CMA is not a media regulator. They care mostly about markets and consumers.”

He said that it was vital that the second part of the Leveson inquiry be carried out, into the extent of criminal behaviour at the now-renamed News International and other organisations, as well as the involvement of the police.

However, the Tories pledged in their manifesto this year not to carry out the second part of the probe.

The National Union of Journalists also said it had “no confidence in Murdoch’s ability to maintain or promote broadcasting standards.”

The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom is planning on launching a Stop Murdoch crowdfunding campaign.