TODAY'S Northern Echo is wrapped in a party political advertisement by the Conservative Party.

On Wednesday The Northern Echo will be wrapped in a party political advertisement by the Labour Party.

In both cases these adverts were paid for by the respective parties.

They are adverts NOT endorsements by this newspaper. 

There is a world of difference between the stories our reporters publish in the newspaper and the adverts we carry. The messages contained within adverts are biased and one-sided but the editorial content which appears inside your Echo is not.

Throughout the General Election campaign our reporters have been working hard to ensure that our editorial coverage has been fair, balanced and impartial. For example, last week we held a Facebook live event when we put readers’ questions to each of the five candidates contesting the Darlington seat.

We have published a series of in-depth profiles on constituencies in the region; interviewed candidates from all parties; and given you the chance to tell us about matters that will influence how you'll vote.

Newspapers are a fundamental part of the democratic process and they are also businesses. Revenue from advertising allows us to employ reporters, carry out investigations and bring you the best possible local and national news.

We spoke to the Conservative Party to ask if it wished to withdraw today's advertising wrap in light of the London terror attack but the party decided that it should still appear. 

Apart from Ukip all of the main parties suspended their national campaigns yesterday but all of them will be back on the campaign trail today after the Prime Minister confirmed that Thursday’s General Election will definitely go ahead.

Speaking outside Downing Street yesterday, she said: "Violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "If we allow these attacks to disrupt our democratic process, then we all lose."

That democratic process includes party political advertising on television, radio, online and in newspapers. You may not agree with the messages that appear on those adverts but one of the strengths of our democracy is that political parties engage in robust electioneering to get their messages across. We will continue to support that process.