Ole Jacob Sunde says that the Scott Trust, which he chairs, decided to sell the Observer to Tortoise Media “after extensive internal and external consultation” (We want what’s best for the Observer – and the Guardian. That’s why the deal with Tortoise makes sense, 7 December). I edited the paper for six years until three weeks ago, and his extensive consultations did not extend to me, nor to my colleagues on the paper, who were shocked and angry when they learned of the proposed sale in mid-September.
Neither Ole Jacob, nor any of his fellow trust members, once raised the issues that he now says were critical to the decision to sell the paper, even though I reported annually to the trust in person and routinely invited discussion about the Observer’s future.
Ole Jacob refused my request to address the trust once the proposed sale had been revealed, while other trust members said it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter with me individually.
The sale, which I believe is a thoroughly bad thing for the Observer, was carried out largely in secret, excluding staff who might have made a crucial contribution to the discussions.
Paul Webster
Observer editor, 2018-24
