The Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors “with immediate effect”. Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live over what the BBC understands was a disagreement about a story it ran on local government reorganisation.
Also included in the ban are BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Senior editor Natalie Fahy said she was “very concerned” by the “unprecedented ban”. In response, Barton said the party would not “allow misinformation to shape the narrative of our governance”.
The authority will stop sending press releases to the publication, and Barton and his colleagues will not give interviews or invite them to council events. Reporters from Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS will continue to attend public meetings.
A spokesperson for the council said the ban, which will only be lifted for emergency scenarios, has come into immediate effect. In a statement, Barton said the move was “not about silencing journalism”, but “about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty”.
He added that the party welcomes scrutiny that is conducted with fairness, balance and integrity, but will not engage with media outlets that consistently misrepresent their policies, actions or intentions. Reform took control of the authority at the local elections in May, winning 40 of 66 seats.
Barton, who has been a councillor on Mansfield District Council since 2003, was elected to the county council for the first time in May and later announced as leader. Nottinghamshire Live editor Natalie Fahy said those who applauded Reform’s decision “should think carefully”.
She said the publication prides itself on its balanced and accurate coverage of all political parties, and sees the ban as a direct attack on the free press and their ability to hold elected members to account. The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesperson, MP Max Wilkinson, called it a “dangerous and chilling” decision. MP Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said it was a “disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism”. He added that they are completely denying communities the right to scrutinise those in power.
The leader of the opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council, Conservative Sam Smith, called the ban an “extremely dangerous step”. He added that it’s not just the press Reform are shutting out in Nottinghamshire, but the voice and views of residents. The BBC funds 165 LDRS reporters across the UK, three of which are funded in Nottingham.
A spokesperson for the BBC said independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals. They continue to support Notts Live in seeking a resolution.
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