AstraZeneca takeover bid: 'PM should stop being cheerleader'

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for a "proper, independent assessment" into the attempted takeover of the UK pharmaceuticals firm AstraZeneca by its US rival Pfizer.

He called on the prime minister to "stop being a cheerleader for this takeover" and to "start being a champion for British business".

But No 10 has denied it was acting as a "cheerleader" for the deal, saying it was fighting for British jobs and British science.