BOYCOTT: Mrs Perry has decided not to co-operate with Marlborough News Online

We feel we need to apologise to our readers and advertisers for our coverage of the General Election campaign in the Devizes Constituency.

As some readers will have noticed, the Conservative candidate did not see fit to respond to our request for statements on six key policy issues, to provide a short biography and a new photograph.  Four of the candidates were happy to become involved – only one was not.

Mrs Perry has not explained her attitude towards us.  The closest we have got to a reason is that it is said she took exception to the way one of our stories was dealt with by third parties on social media – hardly our fault and hardly something we could prevent.

We sent her a detailed letter (delivered by hand on Tuesday last week – 28 April) asking her to explain her reasons.  She has not acknowledged receipt of the letter nor has she responded to it.

In this letter we pointed out that Marlborough News Online is a local enterprise, is part of the voluntary sector and an independent organisation (not foreign owned) – three things she frequently states she applauds and supports in others.

And we listed some of the stories we had NOT written about her.  We had said we would publish this letter, but as it includes descriptions of some rumours which we chose NOT to follow up, we have decided we cannot publish it.  We do not want to give further circulation to such rumours.

Our attempt to rebuild bridges with Mrs Perry having failed, we think it is important in the light of the transparency which is supposed to underlie current national and local politics, to explain our position.

We are independent and, where possible and appropriate, we are balanced in our coverage.  We do not, as we explained to Mrs Perry, want to weigh Marlborough News Online down with news stories about national politics which are covered elsewhere.  We do not accept political advertising.

Marlborough News Online is apolitical.  And does not become involved in party politics in any way, and would never support or criticise any candidate based on the colour of their rosette.

We shall continue to report Mrs Perry’s stand on issues and her public utterances when they are relevant to and affect the Marlborough area.  Obvious areas are transport, housing, the NHS, the environment and employment.

And we shall continue, when necessary, to challenge her views with facts and alternate views even though this will – unfortunately – be a one-sided discourse.

She perhaps believes we will go away if she ignores us.  We will not be so easily put off.  And will continue to provide a service which we believe enhances, in its small way, the communities of the Marlborough area.