How SNP tried and failed to stop help for vital newspapers – Murdo Fraser

Murdo Fraser’s amendment to Scotland’s Coronavirus No. 2 Bill, extending a business rates’ holiday to newspaper publishers as well as the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors, is passed by Conservative, Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs.

Newspapers are an important Scottish industry and need help like other sectors (Picture: David Zalubowski/AP)

These are difficult times for newspapers. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we were seeing declines in circulation across the board, with more and more people accessing their news digitally. What was already a difficult situation has been made much worse by the lockdown arrangements over the last few weeks.

The Scottish Newspaper Society estimates that circulation of newspapers across the country is down 25 per cent since February, whilst advertising revenue – with key sectors such as property and car sales, hospitality, and tourism no longer able to function – down by a staggering 75 per cent.

It is no wonder that, against this backdrop, we see a famous and historic local title, The West Highland Free Press, taking the decision to cease publication for the time being, although retaining an online presence.

There are real concerns that we will see some papers folding altogether, and others having to downsize even more.

Yet this is happening at a time when news is more important than ever. Particularly for those isolated at home, newspapers, national or local, are a vital source of information, and play a key role in communicating government health messages. It was good, therefore, to see the recent Scottish Government announcement of a £3 million advertising package to support the Press.

Whilst welcome, this will not be enough to save a vital industry. I put forward an amendment to the Coronavirus No. 2 Bill in the Scottish Parliament last week, to grant newspaper publishers the same business rates’ holiday as has been given to enterprises in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors.

I was delighted to receive the support of Conservative, Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs, to ensure that this measure was carried.

Shamefully, every single SNP MSP voted against this support for their local papers.

It may still not be enough, but I hope that this small contribution will make a difference in securing the future of an important Scottish industry.