Mail raises cover price by 5p
Stephen Brook
guardian.co.uk,


The Daily Mail increased its price to 50p today - prompting rival title the Daily Express to accuse it of "staggering hypocrisy".

Associated Newspapers' flagship daily said its 5p price rise was due to higher fuel charges, printing, production and distribution costs.
"We remain committed to bringing you the best-value package available through continued investment in the highest quality journalism, bigger papers and colour on every page," the Mail said in a statement to readers on page 2 of today's paper.

The price rise means that the Mail is 10p more expensive than the Daily Express, a fact its middle market rival wasted no time in pointing out on its front page today.

"10p cheaper than the Daily Mail and 10 times better," the Express proclaimed, before launching a virulent attack on the Associated Newspapers flagship, also on page 2.

The Express labelled the Mail "hypocrites" for the price rise, while the paper is running a campaign against cost of living increases.
"With great fanfare, the Mail duly announced its cost of living index. Funny that. Mail bosses couldn't have picked a better moment, because from today they've added their own unwelcome boost to inflation by putting up the cost of the Daily Mail by 5p to 50p," the Express said.

"It's just another fine example of staggering hypocrisy. This is an organisation that campaigns against waste and plastic carriers yet every weekend it wraps magazines and supplements in pointless polythene bags.

"Day in, day out it produces thousands of trashy free newspapers which nobody wants and which clog up our streets and our public transport until they end up in a landfill site.

"The Daily Express is not in the business of conning our readers with gimmicks and insincere campaigns. We promise to keep our 40p cover price for as long as is humanly possible because we know how much that means to you. The Daily Express is honest and offers the best value. And right now, that really counts."

On Saturdays, the Daily Mail remains 70p, while the Mail on Sunday costs £1.50