Withington MP Fights for the future of Manchester newsagents

10.53.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

Local MP, John Leech, has this week pledged to fight for the future of newsagents in south Manchester.

Following the revelation that traditional newsagents are being forced to shut up shop at a rate of more than one every day, Mr. Leech, who is the Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington, has given his support to the 'Save Our Newsagents' campaign, highlighting the need to maintain local business for Manchester residents.

John Leech said:

"Traditional newsagents are the backbone of our community. They deliver a vital service and are a friendly face that many people rely on every day."

Mr. Leech has also backed a parliamentary motion opposing monopolisation of the newsagents industry and calling on the government to safeguard competition for the benefit of consumers.

Developments in the news distribution industry - the businesses that deliver newspapers and magazines - have left most newsagents with no choice over who supplies them.

John Leech added:

"It is shocking and unacceptable that so many newsagents face an uphill struggle to survive. I am happy to pledge my support to newsagents in Manchester Withington and across the UK."

"Across south Manchester local residents are still reeling from the closures of local post offices, so any loss of their newsagents would be devastating. I'm therefore pleased to have met with retailers and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents to look at ways that I can help locally and in parliament."

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Notes to editors

Attached photo of John Leech MP with the 'Save our Newsagents' petition outside Westminster

John Leech has signed EDM 1424: NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION MARKET

05.05.2009

Hughes, Simon

That this House notes that newsagents across the country, as represented by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the Association of News Retailers, have expressed serious concern about the recent consolidation of the newspaper and magazine distribution market and the likely emergence of two regional monopolies; values the important role of independent newsagents and is concerned that these changes in the market may force many to close, restricting consumer choice and harming local communities, as well as causing up to 2,800 job losses in news distribution branches across the UK; and calls on the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to request that the Office of Fair Trading looks urgently at these recent developments in the distribution market and takes action to safeguard competition for the benefit of consumers, independent newsagents and distribution employees alike.