MPs criticise newspaper publishers

Where's that David Cameron when he's really needed?

I'm sure his friends in the Newspaper Society will get him to come and rough up the nasty oiks who have had a go at them:

Austin Mitchell, Labour MP for Great Grimsby, said: "I think what’s overdone is the companies' loss of profitability.

"When you look at the figures, Trinity Mirror had an operating profit [margin] of 19 per cent, Johnston Press 29 per cent.

"Compare that with Tesco - six per cent. Why are they out to make such huge profits out of the media?"

Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, said: "Newspaper conglomerates have been allowed to build up massive profits over the years.

"They have not invested properly, yet they still want to cream off as much profit as they can. The government must act."

(as reported in Press Gazette)

The best that any of Dave's acolytes could do was ask for special treatment:

Ed Vaizey, Conservative MP for Wantage and Didcot, and shadow culture minister, said the industry decline was clear.

"One major regional news group has seen its advertising decline by 55 per cent in the fourth quarter," he said.

"We all buy our local newspapers assiduously, and we can all see the physical manifestation of what we're talking about. The papers are thinner and the coverage is sketchier."

Vaizey added that the government should "sweep away" legislation that stopped local newspaper groups merging.

No sign of the BBC's big foot here?