BOLTON West MP Chris Green is backing The Bolton News and other local newspapers’ right to investigate in the face of a proposed law change.

The proposal could see the press hit with huge legal fees — even if they win court challenges.

The government is consulting on Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, which would mean newspapers would be obliged to pay the legal costs of anybody who would sue for libel, even if the judge ruled that the story was accurate.

Bolton News group editor Ian Savage is also urging local people to support their daily newspaper and others across the country in the face of this threat.

The MP is encouraging anyone who values a free press to respond to the consultation ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.

Mr Green said: “Local papers play a key role in democracy and if this new rule is brought in, it could seriously undermine our free press.

“Following the phone hacking scandal at a number of tabloid papers, we have made changes and we’re in a better place than we were before. Section 40 goes too far and would effectively stop our fantastic local papers from investigating important stories. One big legal bill could shut any local paper down.

“If Section 40 was in place, the Bolton News might not have published its investigative work on the £300,000 ‘secret grant’ approved by the council leader to Asons or uncovering the truth about the council’s former chief executive’s £90,000 pay off.

“If you value a free press, please do make your views known in this consultation.”

To take part in the consultation, visit gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-leveson-inquiry-and-its-implementation, email presspolicy@culture.gov.uk or write to Press Policy, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 4th floor, 100 Parliament St, London SW1A 2BQ. The consultation closes at 5pm tomorrow.