17 MARCH 2010
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
SNP CLIMB-DOWN ON LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
LOCAL LABOUR POLITICIANS WELCOMES SCRAPPING OF "DAMAGING AND UNDEMOCRATIC" PLANS FOR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Labour in the Scottish Parliament has forced the SNP into a humiliating climbdown over its proposals to take public notices out of local newspapers.  MP for Dumfries and Galloway Russell Brown and MSP for Dumfries Elaine Murray have welcomed the SNP's decision to scrap the "damaging and undemocratic plans". 

Russell Brown MP said: "This is a humiliating climb-down for the SNP and I'm pleased that Labour's pressure on the issue has paid off." 

"Labour has made the case for Dumfries and Galloway's local newspapers from the time that these damaging and undemocratic proposals were first proposed." 

“Government should be doing what it can to support local newspapers, not taking business away from them”

Elaine Murray MSP said: “I am very pleased to learn that the SNP have seen sense. The SNP had ignored the fact that some people, especially in rural areas, can't access the internet and look to local papers as their main provider of local information." 

“Our local papers play a vital role in keeping people informed about what's happening in their area and the business provided by these notices will help support them.

"Labour made the case for common-sense and the need to inform people of what important decisions are being taken in their area.  This is a success for local democracy."

ENDS

CONTACT – ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856