The editor of the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford has criticised an MP who tabled an early day motion in support of journalists taking industrial action.

Perry Austin-Clarke said Bradford North MP Terry Rooney had not been in touch with the company before urging management to “negotiate properly” with the National Union of Journalists.

Union members among editorial staff in Bradford have embarked on a 12-day stoppage in pursuit of an improved pay offer.

As well as the T&A, the Keighley News, Ilkley Gazette, Craven Herald and Wharfedale Observer newsrooms are affected.

More than 50 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion – a parliamentary petition – calling on the newspaper publisher to make a realistic pay offer to the striking journalists.

But the editor said: “Terry doesn’t know what he is talking about.

“He hasn’t bothered to contact anyone at the company to find out the facts and he presumably isn’t aware that we have been negotiating firstly with the union’s general secretary.

“He seems to have swallowed their propaganda whole and he may want to ask the local leadership why they have refused to suspend their action while those talks are continuing.

“All of our most senior and highly-skilled journalists are working normally and are determined and committed to making sure that the quality of the T&A does not suffer in any way.”

The current 12-day walk-out began on Wednesday after the union rejected a two per cent pay offer.

The company says the average salary of those on strike is £21,000. The union argues that fully qualified senior journalists starting rates of £15,000 on the weeklies and £17,100 on the daily are not enough.

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