More than 300 striking regional journalists have won support from across the political spectrum after walking out in a pay dispute.

Both Labour and Tory politicians have lent their support to National Union of Journalists members at National World, who began the first of three planned 24-hour strikes this morning.

Picket lines have been set up in areas served by National World titles including Belfast, Edinburgh, Kettering, Portsmouth, Preston, Sheffield and Sunderland.

The Edinburgh picket was attended by former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and MSP Daniel Johnson.

National World journalists on strike in Sheffield. Credit: NUJ.

Conservative MSP Russell Findlay, a former journalist with titles including Glasgow’s Sunday Mail, also sent a video message of support.

He said: “The rapid and dramatic decline of Scotland’s newspaper industry is a national tragedy.

“I know how hard it is to decide to strike and I wish you all the best for a fair and speedy resolution to this dispute.

“Scotland desperately needs a vibrant and diverse press.”

The union is urging National World to offer an improved pay package, uplifts to minimum rates and efforts to improve pay disparities after talks between the two parties hosted by conciliation service ACAS collapsed earlier this summer.

NUJ members at the group had repeatedly rejected a proposed 4.5pc pay increase.

Further strikes are due to be held on Friday and next Monday, while a work to rule starts tomorrow.

National World has previously accused the NUJ of showing no “flexibility” in negotations and claimed to its journalists that the action could put some of its titles’ futures at risk.

HTFP has approached the company for further comment.