A Westminster campaign has begun to try to safeguard nearly 100 jobs at a Shrewsbury newspaper and magazine distribution firm.

Last month it was revealed a total of 97 jobs at the Dawson News branch in March Way at the Battlefield Enterprise Park are under threat after the firm lost a series of high-profile contracts. The employees whose jobs are threatened include management, clerical staff, warehouse operators and drivers.

They are among 2,800 whose positions are at risk nationally.

Managers claim that the distribution of newspapers and magazines in the industry is controlled by two “effective regional monopolies”.

Now MPs have begun a campaign in the House of Commons calling on the Office of Fair Trading to begin an immediate investigate into the situation.

Nearly 30 MPs have backed the campaign and put their names to a Parliamentary Motion calling for action from the OFT

Members of Parliament have also tabled Parliamentary Questions and written directly to the OFT and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, while Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has also been asked to look into the situation.

Dawson chief executive Peter Harris said: “It is increasingly clear that the current situation not only puts Dawson jobs at risk, but also threatens the future of independent newsagents.

“I have written to MPs representing all of the areas affected and the ongoing results in Westminster will hopefully go some way to ensuring that this matter is properly and quickly investigated.

“Clearly while a lot has been achieved there is always room for more to be done. I would like to reassure everyone that we are doing all that we can to safeguard the livelihood of all of our employees.”

He said the firm had contracts until September and into the beginning of 2010.

Mr Harris said bids for new contracts were priced “very aggressively” and he has been trying to find out why the firm was unable to compete.

By John Kirk