Frontrunner in Telegraph newspaper takeover bid accuses rivals of hypocrisy

Jeff Zucker of Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI insists editorial independence of titles would be protected

The US boss of the Abu Dhabi-backed company that is the frontrunner to acquire the Telegraph newspapers has accused rival bidders of hypocrisy and reiterated a pledge to the UK government that he would guarantee the newspaper's editorial independence.

The bid is being fronted by Jeff Zucker, a former chief executive of CNN who now runs RedBird IMI, which is mostly funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of Manchester City football club.