Rivals plan to spoil Rupert Murdoch's new sunrise
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Another new red top could soon be rivalling the Sunday edition of The Sun, which launches this weekend. The former Sunday Express editor, Susan Douglas, has financial backing for a new tabloid based on the mass appeal of the News of the World before the phone-hacking scandal. It would inevitably compete directly with Rupert Murdoch's new tabloid, The Sun on Sunday.
Scores of former News of the World journalists remain out of work, and Ms Douglas's team is believed to have reached the stage of drawing up wish-lists of high-profile columnists who might feature in a new paper. "The launch of the Sunday edition of The Sun brings alive the future of tabloid journalism and there's everything to play for," she said last night.
Mr Murdoch signalled a price war yesterday when he tweeted that his new publication would sell at cut price. "Regular Sunday price for The Sun only 50p... and Saturday's Sun going down to 50p too! Great news for readers and the economy."
The Sunday edition of The Scottish Sun is widely expected to mark its arrival by announcing its support for Scottish independence. The paper backed the Scottish National Party at last year's Scottish Parliament elections but did not back independence. But recent Twitter messages from Rupert Murdoch, in which he has expressed his admiration for the SNP leader, Alex Salmond, have prompted speculation that the newspaper will go one step further and win a publicity coup for his new paper in the process.
Last week Mr Murdoch tweeted: "Alex Salmond clearly most brilliant politician in UK. Gave Cameron back of his hand this week. Loved by Scots." A day later, in an apparent signal that he supported Scottish independence, Mr Murdoch followed up with: "Let Scotland go and compete. Everyone would win."
Giving the backing of the best-selling Scottish daily paper to Scottish independence would be a classic Murdoch manoeuvre, reminding the main Westminster parties of his power and taking revenge for the way they humiliated him in Parliament over the phone-hacking scandal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments