Oppostion Leader William Hague has paid tribute to Britain’s regional newspapers and called for greater openness in government to allow local journalists to probe, question, scrutinise and report the truth for their readers.

Speaking to nearly 300 regional newspaper publishers, editors and their guests at the Newspaper Society’s annual lunch, Mr Hague said: “Your local and regional newspapers are the heartbeat of their local communities, reflecting the needs and values and aspirations of people living there. They’re also the first line of defence in a free society.

“It is very easy for politicians to pay lip-service to the freedom of the press. But it is one of my deepest-held beliefs that a free press, locally and nationally, is the most important safeguard of liberty. That’s why we should always resist privacy legislation, whether introduced explicitly or through the backdoor of a so-called human rights act. It is why we should resist calls to censor newspapers even when we strongly disapprove of their content.”

He voiced his own deep concerns about government secrecy at all levels and the potentially damaging effects of the Freedom of Information Bill. “I am particularly sceptical about some of the current developments in local government, such as the creation of cabinet-style structures which, if we are not careful, takes decision-making out of the council chamber and puts it behind closed doors – away from members of the public and the prying eyes of your local reporters.”

He added: “The manifesto commitment on open government has been delayed and watered down and wriggled out of to such an extent that the Freedom of Information Bill now before Parliament could actually lead to more secrecy in government and less information being freely available to the public…

“That is bad news for the public, bad news for your journalists who are trying to report the truth, bad news for Parliament as it attempts to scrutinise the work of the executive, and bad news for government because obsessive secrecy often leads to poor decision making.”

He said the Conservative Party had proposed substantial amendments to the FoI Bill, including a requirement to disclose the factual information upon which government decisions are made, the end of many of the more wide-ranging exemptions, and the giving of the final say on any decision to the independent Information Commissioner responsible to Parliament rather than ministers.

“Whatever laws are finally passed… I fervently hope that you will not be deterred from your job – which is to inform and interest your readers, to reflect their concerns and opinions, to be the eyes and ears of local democracy and to hold politicians and those in all forms of authority to account for their actions…

“It’s when you read the local and regional newspapers that you get to know what’s really going on around the country…The regional press, with its army of local news gatherers, is simply the only medium which can give such comprehensive coverage to the everyday issues which affect people’s lives in our constituencies and council wards… Your role has never been more important.”

The Newspaper Society’s annual lunch was hosted by its president James Evans. Among the distinguished guests of regional newspaper publishers and editors were: former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, Lord Rodgers, Lord Coe, Lord Davies, Sir Norman Fowler, Sir Harry Roche, Canon John Oates, Robert Sheldon MP, Margaret Hodge MP, Richard Ottaway MP, Geraint Davies MP, Bill Cash MP, and author Frederick Forsyth.

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