The vital role the local and regional press plays in shaping politics has been highlighted by the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the annual Newspaper Conference lunch, Gordon Brown declared a “new era of politics” in which “trusted” newspapers had a part to play.

He also referred to the vital role local papers took in revitalising towns and communities across the UK with their campaigning journalism.

He told the conference: “I want to thank you as newspapers for what you are achieving because your campaigning journalism is, I believe, contributing to the new vitality of so many towns, cities and regions in our country.

“Local and regional newspapers are the most trusted of any of the broadcasting press and that is a tribute to the work that you all do.

“The big issues that concern your readers, my constituents, the constituents of many people here, and the communities which you are in, call for a new relationship between people and politicians.

“I think we’ve gone beyond those days when politicians make decisions from on high and expect that these decisions are the right ones for people in their communities.

“We are into a new era of politics which I think you represent better than anyone else and which all the modern means of communication are going to make possible, where you cannot make the right decisions unless you listen to, consult and are informed by, and take seriously the participation of all the people you are representing.

“If you’re going to build stronger communities that resist antisocial behaviour and stand up against violence, they are never going to be stronger unless people themselves are involved in creating these strong communities, as good local newspapers do with campaigns, whether to tackle drugs or antisocial behaviour.”

The lunch was organised by the Newspaper Society and attended by more than 80 publishers, journalists MPs and other guests.