We've sent an email out to you, our subscribers, to ask for your view on an issue we've been debating in the newsroom. We have had been amazed at the response we've already had, just hours after the email was sent. In case you missed it, here's what the email said...

Dear Subscriber,

I need your views on a subject we are debating at the Stray Ferret.

Should we allow political parties to advertise on the website and app?

We have been approached by a local party which wants to do so...

As a news website that covers local politics and scrutinises our local politicians it might seem an obvious NO. Which was my personal view.

My view is that I do not want readers like yourselves to see a paid for advert from a party on the website and think that we are no longer neutral – that we will essentially give the party that paid us some sort of preferential treatment editorially because we need the money.

I can assure you that this would never happen, but a political ad might alter your perception of us which would be damaging. The Stray Ferret journalists have worked too hard to risk that.

But my flat NO has been challenged in the office. These parties are legal and part of our democracy. They need to get their messages out to the public and have to find ways to do so. They trust our site and want to talk to you directly.

The adverts themselves would be subject to our own editorial rules of accuracy and also those of the Advertising Standards Authority. We would need go to greater lengths to clearly mark they are paid for to avoid any chance of confusion.

Maybe my fear of agreeing to political ads is rather patronising to you readers – (I’m sorry if you feel this!) as I know you can distinguish between an article that the Stray Ferret journalists write and one that has been paid for. But that is one of my concerns.

The argument about the money is also interesting. All our revenue goes back into journalism. That means that any adverts paid for by the political parties would then increase our ability to scrutinise them. That, for me, is rather a compelling argument.

So, I think the best thing to do now, is rather than second guessing what your reaction would be is to ask you directly what you think.

Many other news organisations do it, even the BBC does it during election pending periods.

I would really value your view... please let me know. contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.