WE asked Gwent MPs what the Argus means to them.
JESSICA Morden, Newport East MP and one-time Argus delivery girl, said: “When the Home Office tried to close the Newport Passport Office one of the ministers admitted he’d been keeping in touch daily with what the Argus was saying.
“That’s the great strength of the Argus. A campaigning paper that can champion the issues that are important to Gwent and really make a difference.
“While it’s true to say us politicians don’t always like what’s written about us, we certainly respect the straight reporting and standing up for local causes.
“Happy 120th birthday and may you go from strength to strength.”
Nick Smith, MP for Blaenau Gwent, said: “The Argus is a great campaigning newspaper in best tradition of regional press and it has its pulse on the interests and lives of people in South East Wales.”
PAUL Murphy, MP for Torfaen, said: “As my local paper alongside the Pontypool Free Press, the Argus has been a part of my life ever since I was a small child learning to read.
“I can vividly remember my parents reading the paper from cover to cover in our house in Abersychan, before passing it on to friends and neighbours.
“Like so many other families down the years, we could always rely on the Argus to provide an impartial and balanced view of life in Gwent.
“At a time when some of our national newspapers have erred, I’d encourage people to support decent, honest papers like the Argus.
“All the best for the next 120 years!”
Paul Flynn, Newport West MP, said: “The Argus has been a constant companion for Newportonians – it has provided a great service by informing us, sometimes infuriating us, sometimes delighting us.
It’s been an essential part of local life.
“It’s fascinating that political giants like Aneurin Bevan, Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock have been local MPs over the years. The Argus had a record, a very mixed one, of being involved in politics.
They were once a great scourge of Aneurin Bevan, remembered now as the great hero of the health service.
“It’s a familiar, essential and unmissable part of Gwent life and long may it continue.”
Monmouth MP David Davies said: “The South Wales Argus does an outstanding job in reporting local news in a fair and accurate fashion.
“I am absolutely delighted to be able to add my congratulations for the last 120 years and look forward to many more years of excellent local service.”
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