Freedom of the Press and impartiality during elections

[Gromit2]

I notice that the News of the World has joined the rest of the Murdoch papers in coming out supporting the Conservatives at the General Election. Newspaper have long been able to show a bias to one side. The the famously wrote - "It was the Sun wot won it!".

This is in stark contrast to other media who have to be strictly impartial. George Galloway's Radio Show has been taken off the air, and The Apprentice TV show has been delayed until later in the year.

Several questions about Newspapers supporting a political party at elections:

Does it matter?
Does anyone really take any notice of them?
Can there be a conflict if proprietors such as Murdoch influencing a party to get his support? (The Conservatives will cut the BBC, rival to his Sky Television Service
If it were possible, should impartiality be imposed on them, or would that be an attack on press freedom?

[royfromaus]

Bloody hell

[fiction-factory]

What's so startling, roy, a bout this 10 year old thread?

[fiction-factory]

There's a Gromit33 posting as well. I haven't checked whether there are other versions in between