With three weeks to go until the General Election on May 7, the main political parties have all released their manifestos outlining their plans for the next five years should they get into government.

Press regulation and the protection of journalists’ sources feature on the agenda of some of those seeking your vote, while one party has committed to a consultation on business rates relief for English local newspapers.

Here is HTFP’s round-up of the main policy points which could affect the regional press from the Conservatives, Greens, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Despite a thorough search of UKIP’s manifesto, we were unable to find any policy relating specifically to the media.

From left: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Conservative Party leader David Cameron and Labour Party leader Ed Miliband

Conservative Party

The Tories say they will “continue to defend hard-won liberties and the operation of a free press” in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry but make no specific pledges on press regulation.

Their manifesto adds: “Because the work of the free press is so important we will offer explicit protection for the role of journalists via the British Bill of Rights and we will ban the police from accessing journalists’ phone records to identify whistle-blowers and other sources without prior judicial approval.

“Local newspapers are an important source of information for local communities and a vital part of a healthy democracy.”

A commitment to carry out George Osborne’s Budget announcement of a consultation on business rates relief for local newspapers in England has also been reaffirmed.

Green Party

The Greens have pledged to replace the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), which they say has failed to support the confidentility of journalistic sources or regulate undercover police effectively.

The party also wants restrictions on cross-media ownership with no company or individual able to control more than 20pc of any given market.

The Greens would also support the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry and the cross-party Royal Charter.

Their manifesto adds: “But if this is not supported by all the major newspapers we will support legislation to implement the Leveson system of independent press self-regulation.”

Labour Party

Labour says it remains “strongly committed” to implementing Leveson’s recommendations but stops short of promising to impose a system of press regulation.

Its manifesto says it “expects the industry to establish a mechanism for independent self-regulation which delivers proper redress for individuals, as set out in the Royal Charter, and agreed by all parties in Parliament.”

It adds: “We made a promise to victims of the phone hacking scandal. We stand by that promise and will keep it.”

Labour says it will also take steps to ensure no one media owner can “exert undue influence on public opinion and policy makers”, and protect the principle of media plurality.

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems say they would introduce statutory public interest defences for “exceptional case” where journalists need to break the law (such as RIPA, the 2010 Bribery Act and the 1998 Computer Misuse Act) to expose corruption or other criminal acts.

They would also ensure judicial authorisation is required for the acquisition of data which could reveal journalists’ sources inder RIPA, and would give journalists the chance to address the court prior to this, subject to it not jeopardising the investigation.

The party plans a post-legislative review of the 2013 Defamation Act to ensure its new powers are “reducing the chill of libel threats”.

It would also safeguard the position of investigative journalists by implementing Leveson’s recommended chanfes to the 1998 Data Protection Act, following a consultation on the detail.