News - World: Sir John Major, former British Prime Minister, has joined the list of officials warning against Abu Dhabi's acquisition of The Telegraph newspaper.

Sir John Major, who led the British government between 1990 and 1997, has said it is not a “good idea” for the United Arab Emirates-backed takeover of The Telegraph to go ahead.

The former prime minister said he did not want newspapers to fall into “autocratic or semi-autocratic hands”.

MPs and peers have warned of the ramifications of the bid to take over The Telegraph and The Spectator by RedBird IMI, a fund that is 75 percent financed by the UAE.

Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, has triggered a public interest investigation into the sale, citing concerns about the accurate presentation of news and free expression.

Speaking on Thursday at Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power summit in London, Sir John said he wanted large national newspapers to be in the hands of “people who understand the British instinct”.

He agreed when Andrew Neil, the chairman of The Spectator, said that Gulf State autocracies were trying to buy up soft power by purchasing British football teams and more recently, media organizations.

Neil has said that he will resign as chairman of The Spectator if the “absurd” proposed takeover goes ahead.

“I agree with that analysis,” Sir John said. “I think there’s a degree of ownership of British assets that I’m fairly relaxed if they go into autocratic or semi-autocratic hands.