Think-tank, the New Economic Foundation, has thrown its weight behind the PPA, which claimed that up to half of all newsstand magazines could be forced out of business if EU competition laws are applied to magazine distribution.  

If the legislation is introduced, the body believes, magazine and newspaper distribution would be dominated by chain retailers, forcing independent newsagents out of business. 

The PPA has previously warned that smaller titles would come under threat because they are not profitable for the distributor. 

The current exclusive geographic distribution set-up ensures that all 54,000 newsagents in the UK stock a full range of titles.