Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has said that the Scottish Government must do more to support local newspapers after the SNP lost a vote in the Scottish Parliament on their decision to scrap business rates relief for newspapers.

MSPs defeated the Scottish Government by one vote over their plans yesterday.

The Scottish Conservative MSP said: “Kate Forbes made a terrible error in scrapping rates relief for our local papers.

“She must now respect the vote in the Scottish Parliament and reverse her decision before any more harm is done.

“The hallmark of a functioning democracy is a vigorous free press which has the resources to employ journalists and hold decision-makers to account.

“That is just as important at a local level as it is at a national level.

“Here in the Highlands and Islands we have a very fine tradition of independent-minded newspapers which local people can trust.

“It would be a tragedy if they were allowed to fail by a negligent SNP Government which appears to resent scrutiny and is doing little to help them survive.”