PRESS freedom is under threat because thousands of new outlets such as supermarkets and petrol filling stations are now selling newspapers, says Burnley MP, Peter Pike.
He says these can only offer a limited range of high circulation papers and therefore traditional newsagents unable to compete are closing down.
He and more than 60 other MPs have signed a Commons motion arguing that there is a diminished service to readers and a threat to the diversity and democracy of the Press. They say the situation is exacerbated by publishers issuing exclusive contracts, resulting in whole areas being serviced by only one wholesaler and the number of wholesale depots being slashed by half over the past year.
The MPs are calling for the whole matter to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
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