This is what Gordon Brown said about local newspapers last year: "Local newspapers are at the heart of Britain...They make an essential contribution to the vitality of local communities, and as a result our whole national life is strengthened. You show us what really makes the difference in our country is communities coming together to change things for the better."

Today, I've received a press release from Schools Minister Vernon Coker announcing that a new online recruitment service could reduce the national cost of advertising for school teacher and support staff posts by almost two-thirds.

"It aims to save up to £30m annually if all schools in England sign up - with huge savings in time, administration, and the cost of advertising posts in national and local media..." he says.

I can't help thinking that there's a conflict between what the Prime Minister says about the importance of local papers, and one of his ministers rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of vital advertising revenue being taken away from those same local newspapers and diverted into a Government portal.

The irony is that the Schools Minister is actually sending out press releases to local newspapers across the country, asking them to advertise (for free) the Government's new on-line service which is designed to undermine their businesses.