Tory leader David Cameron took time out during a visit to Bath to drop in on one of the local papers.

The Conservative party chief was in the south-west city for one of his ‘Cameron Direct’ public meetings but called in to meet staff from The Bath Chronicle.

Editor Sam Holliday said: “We were very grateful to our local Tory candidate for asking his leader to come to our offices amidst Mr Cameron’s hectic schedule and it gave us a chance to discuss issues affecting both our industry and our community.

“Mr Cameron seemed both knowledgeable and supportive about the local press and some of the challenges we face in the digital age. I think that is very good news in a potential Prime Minister.”

The Tory’s visit led to a lively debate on the paper’s website about the Chronicle’s supposed political leanings, prompting Sam to stress in his weekly column that local newspapers are biased only towards their readers.

He wrote: “My erstwhile opinion-free deputy Paul Wiltshire was accused of being akin to a Tory lackey.

“This, we found particularly amusing, as a few weeks ago he had been called a Lib-Dem lackey as well.

“He is clearly therefore a lackey – albeit one who is awfully confused about his politics”