YOUR South Wales Argus celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.

The paper was first published in 1892 as a mouthpiece for the local Liberal Party.

But it is many decades since the Argus supported any political party.

We will always express our views on important local issues - that is part of our role as a long-established local newspaper - but we remain neutral politically.

That independence is never more important than during election campaigns.

Our readers know we publish fair and unbiased coverage during elections.

Unlike some newspapers, we never presume to tell our readers how to vote.

We simply set out the key issues, explain who the candidates are, and allow our readers to make up their own minds.

Some of our readers in one Newport ward could be forgiven for thinking we have changed our neutral position.

The Conservatives in Stow Hill have delivered a leaflet to voters that reproduces a recent Argus front page headline and implies that this newspaper is backing the party's local candidates.

Last month we published a front page headline following a letter from the developers behind Newport's proposed city centre redevelopment.

The headline said 'Don't Blow It' and referred to the developers' concerns that the Friars Walk development was being used as a political football by city council election candidates.

We also published an editorial comment that urged all candidates to forget party politics and unite in support of the project.

Now the Tories have published a leaflet that attacks alleged negativity towards Friars Walk in a Labour leaflet. We have no problem with that.

Tit-for-tat electioneering is a matter for the two parties.

But the Tory leaflet contains the following phrase: 'In the words of the South Wales Argus - don't blow it'.

In my view, this suggests the Argus is supporting the Conservative candidates in the ward.

The Tories say this was not the impression they intended to give and the leaflet is purely in response to a Labour publication.

That may well be the case but perception can be everything in politics and I would not want our readers in Stow Hill to be fooled into thinking we support the Conservative candidates - or any other candidates for that matter.

I will not allow this newspaper to be used for political purposes.

The Argus remains neutral politically. We do not support any party or any candidate.

We urge our readers to use their votes on Thursday but we would not dream of telling them how to use them.