The ongoing row over political parties producing ‘fake’ local newspapers has erupted again as Britain heads into a general election year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made clear he intends to go to the polls ‘in the second half of 2024′ – but the Liberal Democrats have already run into trouble by publishing fresh campaign literature in the form of local newspapers.

Lib Dem publication the Hallamshire Herald has come to the attention of Sheffield Star digital reporter Harry Harrison, while Wokingham Today editor Phil Creighton has taken the party to task over a title called ‘Wokingham Focus.’

Both the Lib Dems and the Tories came under fire last year for sending out party propaganda under the guise of a local newspaper, a tactic which has been repeatedly highlighted by HTFP.

The Herald, pictured above, is delivered to households in the Crookes, Crosspool, Dore, Ecclesall, Fulwood and Totley areas of Sheffield.

Its front page notes that it is “paid for by the Liberal Democrats and delivered by the Royal Mail”.

Posting on X, Harry wrote: “Interesting to see the Sheffield Liberal Democrats going down the Conservative route of handing out newspaper-like campaign material.

“I think the issues with this were perfectly highlighted when many – including Lib Dems – called out the Tories for doing it too.”

Commenting on the launch of Wokingham Focus, pictured below, Phil said he was “seriously disappointed to see this.”

He added: “No political party should be issuing campaign material that looks like a bona fide local newspaper – it can easily be mistaken for the real thing.

It led to a swift retort from Lib Dem peer and former campaign chief Lord Chris Rennard, who said: “You ignore the fact that publications like the Daily Mail or the Sun are crude propaganda for the Conservatives (but do not say so on the front).”

Lord Rennard also pointed out that the masthead states that the publication is paid for by Wokingham Liberal Democrats and that the ‘Focus’ branding has been used by the party and its predecessor parties for 60 years.

Phil responded: “Local newspapers tend to be politically neutral; I try hard to ensure all views are represented. These leaflets mimic local papers. It is misleading, and voters deserve better. I’m not the only grumpy editor to make this point.”

Conservative MPs have also used the tactic, with some even using the names of real former newspapers to head up their leaflets, such as the Lincoln Chronicle and High Peak Reporter.

However the Electoral Commission has previously said it is “powerless” to act on the practice, while the UK Government has also refused to step in, telling HTFP that party campaign literature “should not be regulated”.

Responding to the points raised in relation to the Hallamshire Herald, a spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats told HTFP: “All our campaigning literature in Sheffield, including tabloids makes clear it’s from the Liberal Democrats.