Parties to unite over BSkyB bid call

The UK's main political parties are set to unite to urge Rupert Murdoch to drop his bid to buy broadcaster BSkyB.

The Tories and Lib Dems are expected to back a Labour motion calling for Mr Murdoch's News Corporation to drop the bid while phone hacking at the News of the World is investigated.

The vote could ramp up pressure on the media mogul but is not legally binding.

Prime Minister David Cameron is also set to outline to the Commons the remit of a public inquiry into hacking.

Labour says the support of Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs for its parliamentary motion would send a "clear message" to Mr Murdoch.

It comes after Mr Cameron met Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband at Downing Street to discuss the hacking scandal on Tuesday.