CUMBRIAN MPs were among the first to sign a motion calling on the disgraced News Corp to abandon its planned bid to take full ownership of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart and Westmorland and Lonsdale’s Tim Farron signed the motion alongside Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liberal Democract Sir Menzies Campbell.

But within hours of the proposal being made to the House of Commons this morning, BSkyB owner Rupert Murdoch withdrew his bid to take full control of the paid for TV company.

Mr Stewart said he had engaged with hundreds of constituents in the past few days, who have lobbied for political intervention following last week’s revelations of phone hacking and the closure of the News of the World.

Rory Stewart MP said he took the step of signing the House of Commons amendment because of the ‘sickening’ allegations that murder victims, terrorist victims or grieving families had their phones hacked by the newspaper.

Mr Stewart also said he welcomed a separate Government inquiry into phone hacking.

He said: “This second inquiry should look at the culture, the practices and the ethics of the British press. In particular, they should look at how our newspapers are regulated and make recommendations for the future.

“But my main concern – reflected in the motion – is that we must avoid monopolies of all kind – particularly in something as vital to our democracy as the press.”