Bridgeman owns roughly 200 franchise units and is one of the largest franchisees in America.
John Bridgeman, the present director-general, is on the point of being pushed out, having upset too many ministers.
Images courtesy Library of Congress, Bob Thompson, Getty Images and Bridgeman Art Library.
That is one reason why Mr Bridgeman was in favour of the deal and why Mr Murdoch must fear it.
Mr Bridgeman, who was appointed by the previous government, has been notably independent.
Until Mr Bridgeman gets his new powers, it will be hard to judge.
The OFT, run by director general John Bridgeman, is a non-ministerial, independent government department which is divided into competition policy and consumer affairs.
It is expected to take up to 30 days, after which the Mr Bridgeman makes a final assessment which is sent to Mr Mandelson.
The splurge of cases in the United States, and Mr Bridgeman's suspicions, imply that there are at least some nasty secrets to be uncovered.
Mr Bridgeman also flatly rejected calls by the consumer-affairs minister, Kim Howells, for an inquiry into the prices of soft drinks served in public houses.
And the Treasury's appointment of its own man to conduct an investigation into banking competition was a sign of the chancellor's lack of confidence in Mr Bridgeman.
Even without his new powers, Mr Bridgeman has made some headway against high prices: on August 6th, the eve of the football season, football clubs promised him that they would not prevent the discounting of replica shirts, for which fans have been paying heavily for several years.
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