The Society of Editors has called on political parties to use local media to get their ideas across in the forthcoming general election campaign – rather than publishing campaign leaflets that mimic it.

Recent weeks have seen fresh instances of the Tories and Liberal Democrats using mock newspapers to communicate with voters, in some cases using the names of actual defunct titles like the Hitchin Gazette.

Now the SoE has reiterated its calls for parties to cease from using the tactic.

It will be writing to the leaders of all the major political parties seeking assurances that support for the UK news industry and press freedom more widely will form part of their manifesto pledges as the UK heads to the polls on 4 July 2024.

Responding to the election announcement, SoE executive director Dawn Alford said: “Now that a date for the General Election has been confirmed, the Society will be writing to the leaders of all the UK political parties asking what their plans are for supporting and promoting a sustainable future for the UK news industry and press freedom more widely.

“In addition we will, once again, be urging all parties to ensure that all communication with the electorate on behalf of its candidates is open and transparent and, with this in mind, the format of a local newspaper or magazine should not be used.

“Parties would be better placed to direct the public to the work of the actual local media as an independent and trusted source of news and information during the upcoming election period.”

During the last election in 2019, Newsquest editorial director Toby Granville threatened a ‘news blackout’ of Lib Dem campaign news after the party published a title called the ‘Mid-Hampshire Gazette’ on the same patch as the group’s Basingstoke Gazette.