A GOVERNMENT minister has praised the Evening Star's Fightback campaign as an excellent example of a local newspaper working for the benefit of the community.

A GOVERNMENT minister has praised the Evening Star's Fightback campaign as an excellent example of a local newspaper working for the benefit of the community.

Pat McFadden, a minister of state in charge of employment relations in Lord Mandelson's Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, sympathised with everyone who found themselves jobless as a result of the recession.

“We will bounce back stronger than ever. The outcome of the G20 Summit means the world economy has been given a tremendous stimulus,” said Mr McFadden.

“The Evening Star's Fightback campaign is supporting its local community. That is precisely the right thing to do.

“It helps communities believe in themselves and that is what will get us through this recession and we will come out of it stronger than ever. Britain is still a country with huge economic strengths.

“Local newspapers are highly trusted by their communities. They are part of a community's identity.

“By definition, they provide a service that the nationals cannot. I appreciate that the local newspapers are going through tough times at the moment with a loss of advertising revenue but they do a really good job and I'm pleased they are investing in the Internet.

“They are up against well-funded news sites but many of those I have seen are really excellent.”

Mr McFadden said the economic downturn had massive knock-on effects through the world. “International trade is down - in India, 700,000 textiles workers have lost their jobs because of a fall in demand from the United States. If a car worker in Detroit loses his job, he won't be buying imported goods and therefore the impact becomes global.”

The minister said that no country should try to hide behind trade barriers in the belief it would aid their workers. “It is absolutely vital that countries do not give into protectionism and a beggar thy neighbour policy. We will all be the poorer if that course is followed. Protectionism is not the answer.”

Mr McFadden said the East of England was well placed to survive the global turndown. “The region has huge strengths, and has one of the highest knowledge economies in the world.

“The Prime Minister was deeply impressed by what he saw when he visited BT Research at Martlesham a few weeks ago. He is a great believer in Britain trading on its skills and knowledge.”