Dale Vince, the activist and entrepreneur, has accused the house owners of The Guardian of telling “an entire untruth” about his curiosity in taking management of The Observer.

Talking to Sky Information, Mr Vince, who has in depth pursuits in inexperienced vitality and owns Forest Inexperienced Rovers Soccer Membership, stated his discussions with Guardian Media Group (GMG) had been misrepresented in a press release on Friday saying that the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper was being bought to Tortoise Media.

GMG and its proprietor, the Scott Belief, indicated that they’d acquired no credible different bids for The Observer and that Mr Vince had stated he can be eager about shopping for it provided that there was an issue concluding the cope with Tortoise Media.

On Friday afternoon, nonetheless, the entrepreneur denied that suggestion.

“I do not perceive why my curiosity within the Observer continues to be mischaracterised by the Guardian/Scott Belief,” he stated.

“Final week the board of the Belief have been advised I used to be solely eager about investing in Tortoise Media – an entire untruth.

“And now employees are being advised I used to be solely if the Tortoise deal fell via: that is additionally not true.

“I had a gathering with GMG’s chair [Charles Gurassa] some weeks in the past throughout which I defined my background, my curiosity, my capacity and intentions.

“I used to be advised exclusivity prevented a deeper dialog.

“I stated I understood and can be right here – prepared, keen and ready – if the deal fell via.

“It feels greater than a bit of disingenuous to say I used to be solely within the occasion of the deal failing – given I used to be advised that it was the one circumstance during which GMG may speak additional with me.

“[It is] a bit Catch-22 – am advised I am unable to bid after which it is stated I did not bid.”

Mr Vince’s remarks threaten to solid an additional shadow over the deal introduced on Friday, which is able to see the Scott Belief investing £5m in Tortoise Media and holding a board seat at The Observer’s new proprietor.

Journalists at The Guardian and Observer went on strike for 2 days this week in protest on the sale, which they stated represented a betrayal by the Scott Belief.

Workers have been understood to be holding an emergency chapel assembly on Friday afternoon to debate the potential for additional industrial motion.

In its announcement, the Scott Belief stated it anticipated to signal the cope with Tortoise Media inside days.

If it completes, it would see The Observer in new possession for the primary time because the early Nineties.

Based in 1791, it’s the oldest Sunday newspaper on this planet.

Its takeover by a digital media startup will underline the shifting dynamics sweeping the worldwide information media panorama.

GMG has been contacted for additional remark.