SIR - Most people value and would stand up for freedom of the press. Yet, at times political bias in some of the stories and headlines in our tabloids and even the so-called ‘quality press,’ would make the editors of journals in a dictatorship blush!

Fake news, one-side reporting and no-holds-barred abuse is too often seen. And this, is combined with ‘the silent treatment’ ie no inclusion of aspects deemed to be incompatible with the paper’s ‘world view.’ General elections are the prime time for this approach. Newspapers often defend themselves when criticised, by highlighting their ‘investigate role’ in exposing wrongdoing and abuse, but, for the sake of towing the line laid down by proprietors and advertisers, they are also prepared to turn a blind eye and deaf ear when it suits them.

David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose