The Government has cleared Mail and Metro owner Daily Mail and General Trust’s buyout of the i newspaper after being told there were no plurality or competition concerns about the deal. DMGT bought the i newspaper from JPI Media for £49.6m in November but the titles have been operating separately while an investigation into the impact of the deal was underway.

Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden released a statement last week stating that the acquisition has gone ahead. He said: "I accept the CMA’s findings that whilst it is, or may be, the case that a relevant merger situation has been created, the merger does not give rise to a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition in any market. I have also agreed with Ofcom that the merger does not raise concerns in relation to plurality of views in newspapers." 

Lord Rothermere, Chairman of DMGT commented on the acquisition: "I am delighted that, after a thorough investigation, both the Competition and Market Authority and Ofcom have agreed that the acquisition of the i, by dmg media, does not result in a substantial lessening of competition in any market, nor a reduction in the plurality of views across newspaper groups in the UK.

"Editorial independence is an article of faith at dmg media and we are committed to maintaining both the independence and distinctive qualities of the i."