WEST HIGHLAND FREE PRESS

Early day motion 2235, tabled 4 November 2009 by Anne McGuire (Labour). Signed by 47 members.

That this House congratulates the West Highland Free Press on becoming Britain's first employee-owned newspaper; notes that over the last 37 years, the Free Press has established an international reputation for all that is best about journalism; further notes that the newspaper serves all the people in its community, and that the founders of the Free Press have shown that they practice what they preach, both in their radical stewardship of the paper since its foundation, and in their present support for the new form of ownership; recognises the outstanding contribution that one of the newspaper's founders, Brian Wilson, a former hon. Member of this House, has made to ensuring that the newspaper has been part of the political, cultural and social debate in the Highlands and Islands; wishes its new owners every success; and trusts that this will serve as an example to other businesses to develop employee ownership initiatives where possible.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.