A fourth Trinity Mirror-owned daily title has come out in favour of Britain remaining in the EU, urging readers not to “gamble” with its patch’s future.
The Birmingham Mail has officially backed Remain after sister titles the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo and Newcastle daily The Journal all did so last week.
The Mail splashed on its support in today’s edition, pictured below, with editor-in-chief Marc Reeves explaining why the newspaper could not “stay silent” on the issue.
In an editorial, Marc said billions of pounds of new investment coming into the city could be put at risk in the event of a Leave vote.
He wrote: “The Birmingham Mail today urges readers to vote to remain in the EU.
“The stakes are simply too high for Birmingham to gamble with hundreds of thousands of jobs dependent on a relatively recent resurgence in manufacturing. That’s exactly what a vote for Brexit is – a throw of the dice using Brummies’ jobs as gambling chips.
“Sure, we’ve been as appalled as anyone by the exaggerations and scaremongering of campaigners on both sides of the referendum debate. It’s felt at times that the truth has been buried under a mountain of lies and hysteria.
“But when even Brexit campaigners admit they don’t know exactly what would happen if we leave, you have to ask if we can afford to take that punt in the hope that everything will be all right in the end.”
Marc went on to claim that a Leave vote would see a 10pc rise in costs for Birmingham businesses who wanted to continue to trade with Europe, while foreign investors would think twice about coming here in the future.
And he said the referendum campaign would send a shot across the EU’s bows that would lead to further reform.
“Even if the UK stays in, the EU will realise that to avoid the trauma of more exit campaigns, it has to come off its high horse and actually listen to the people it’s meant to serve,” he said.
“A vote to remain isn’t a vote that approves of the EU, warts and all. It’s a vote that demands a better Europe – and one that’s better for Birmingham and the UK.”
Any insiders able to explain the process for ‘coming out’ one way or another?
Editor, TM edict downwards, newsroom poll?
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I think Trinity Mirror staff are just hoping they can “remain” in a job at the moment!
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If it looks like a rat! If it smells Like a rat! If it acts like a rat! Then yes, it is a rat!
Trinity Mirror has plainly aligned itself with big business.
Will Big Business v The Reader play well on the street?
Absolutely not.
Should the editors have acted with more independence and journalistic integrity?
Absolutely.
Journalism that puts itself first before its readers.
Journalism that toes the company line.
Unworthy of all concerned.
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Knowing the editors involved, I’m extremely doubtful that they took this stance because of any edict from Trinity Mirror.
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Nicely put Songbook – so much for press impartiality
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Well Steve, if what you say is correct it is even worse. If the editors concerned had taken time out to see their own website comments they would have quickly realised their readers were going for Brexit. On this basis , they might well have decided that a more nuanced standpoint would have been wise. As it is, I write this on a Friday morning when we all know we will be leaving the EU. Were the editors wise, perceptive and considered in exercising their political views? Plainly not!
I forewarned. I speak not from hindsight. These people are the architects of their own demise. More importantly, they have betrayed their readers on the altar of personal hubris. Complete and utter disgrace.
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A lot of good it did any of them, including my own publication.
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