An MP has attacked council newspapers as ‘parasites' during a Commons debate. Labour's Andy Slaughter, said council publications were ‘undermining, corrupting and corroding' local democracy. The Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush MP claimed Hammersmith & Fulham LBC's fortnightly newspaper the H and F News – which sold advertising space and was delivered to every home in the borough – was killing off the borough's local newspapers. He said: ‘As a consequence, two long-standing publications, each with more than a century of independent publication behind them, are now effectively merged, and a shadow of their former selves. ‘Their chances, against the competition are effectively nil.'
