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The closest election battle in a generation reached fever pitch this week as the Conservative Party paid for premium space in the local press to make their final plea to voters in marginal seats.

In an unprecedented move, the Tories have purchased a full advertisement ‘wrap’ around this newspaper the week before polling day in a bid to persuade any voters still undecided.

They have placed similar advertisement campaigns in newspapers in some other marginal seats across the country.

John Kenealy, editor of the Courier said: “Let me make it quite clear, this newspaper does not support any political party. We have always accepted advertising from legitimate parties - although we have never seen a promotional push on quite this scale before.

“This major advertising campaign on the eve of a neck-and-neck general election shows that despite every form of lobbying, national politicians see the local press as one of the most important and effective means of communicating their message.”

He said that advertising was the lifeblood of a free and independent local press. “It subsidises the cost of the newspaper to readers who might otherwise have to pay several pounds for each edition and it funds the objective journalism that is the cornerstone of a local democracy.

“I know that some readers might be surprised to see such a prominent political advertisement from one party - but it is simply that, an advertisement from that party. It does not in any way imply that we either endorse the party or its message,” he said.

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