During a debate in the UK House of Commons which addressed the future of newspapers, Brian Binley, a Conservative MP for Northampton South, spoke of the importance of the future of newspapers, The Northampton Chronicle reported Thursday.

During the debate, politicians made reference to the more than 900 jobs that have been lost in England's local newspaper industry since June last year, as well as the forced closures and relocations of several papers.

Binley stressed the importance local newspapers have, saying their "value to local democracy is immeasurable" and continued to urge the government to do all it could to help the struggling industry.

Barbara Follett, the minister for culture, pledged that the future of local newspapers was at the top of the government's agenda.