Unrest at Newsquest titles in South London has spread following a second vote of no confidence in management within weeks – after a deputy editor was made redundant.

Journalists at the News Shopper have passed the unanimous vote against regional managing director Roger Mills and director of advertising Dene Stuart.

The National Union of Journalists says the vote comes after the newsroom was required to take an overnight cut of £35,000 in its editorial budget, resulting in the compulsory redundancy of the News Shopper’s deputy editor.

It reflects a similar vote by journalists in Sutton and Twickenham earlier this month against the same directors after the company announced a consultation over an unspecified number of redundancies – with a strike ballot now being held over this.

The NUJ also claims News Shopper journalists were told there would be no pay rise there for a fourth consecutive year, despite many Newsquest centres receiving offers of 2pc.

The NUJ chapel at the paper wrote in a letter to management: “Newsquest lifted its moratorium on pay rises across the group this year and a large number of centres across the group have already received a 2pc pay rise.

“Although 2pc may could be considered paltry when one takes into account people have waited three years to receive it, it was nevertheless a welcome addition to people’s pay packets.

“Our pay claim was lodged in January when no warning of redundancy was in existence, let alone any redundancies announced.

“Yet despite an agreement which binds News Shopper to open negotiations once the claim has been received, no talks were forthcoming and still have not materialised, despite further requests.”

Mr Mills was not available for comment at the time of publication.