South Lakes MP joins cross-party campaign to support local newspapers

Local MP Tim Farron has joined 40 other MPs in writing to the Health Secretary and the Culture Secretary, asking that they support local and independent media through an increased share of public health communications spending.

The letter highlights the importance of local press in communicating trustworthy information and the financial strain faced by local journalists in light of the coronavirus.

Tim said: "Our local newspapers are some of the most trusted sources of news for our communities and we must support them in this challenging time. They are vital to our efforts to respond and recover from the coronavirus and yet they are facing significant financial difficulties.

"This letter is about getting a fair share of government advertising spend for local and independent press, to reflect both their importance in our communities and their financial needs. The Secretary of State for Health has an important role in deciding where these advertising funds go.

"It is essential to get valuable and timely information about coronavirus to people in every part of the country and I hope that the government will get behind this campaign, which is backed by MPs from all sides of Parliament."