Whitehall infighting could hamper scrutiny of Telegraph sale

Foreign Office could stifle possible inquiry into bid from Abu Dhabi-backed fund RedBird IMI in absence of cabinet secretary

A Whitehall battle over the sale of the Telegraph newspapers could break out owing to a power vacuum created by the absence of the cabinet secretary, the Guardian understands.

Efforts by the culture department to investigate an Abu Dhabi-backed bid for the newspaper group risk being steamrolled by the Foreign Office, which is eager to bolster Britain’s relations with the United Arab Emirates, sources said.