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Political party voices fears over possible Northcliffe sale

Members of the political party Mebyon Kernow – ‘the Party for Cornwall’ – have voiced their concerns about the possible sale of Northcliffe Newspapers.

The group publishes four newspapers in the county – the Western Morning News, The Cornishman, Cornish Guardian and West Briton – and the party wants the integrity and local content of the papers to be retained.

Phil Rendle, MK’s deputy leader (campaigns), has challenged the newspapers’ editors to see any change in ownership as an opportunity to “reach out to the people in Cornwall” and ask them how they would like to see their local newspapers develop.

He told HoldtheFrontPage he was due to meet with Andy Cooper, editor-in-chief of Cornwall & Devon Media, next month.

The party is represented on three of Cornwall’s six district councils, as well as many of Cornwall’s town and parish councils.

Among its concerns are that the Cornwall edition of the Western Morning News continues to be printed, along with its Tuesday supplement, Living Cornwall.

It is also calling for the weekly papers to make use of the Cornish language, with regular columns about and in Kernewek and the Cornish dialect.

Phil said: “Times of change are also opportunities and I trust these four newspapers will build on their current position in Cornwall to do a proper job for one and all.”