Reform UK Nottinghamshire Council Imposes Media Blackout on Local News

Mick Barton, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council from the Reform UK party, has imposed a ban on Nottinghamshire Live and its associated Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) journalists, prohibiting them from interviewing him or any Reform councillors except in emergencies. This media blackout follows a contentious story about local government reorganisation, which apparently led to tensions between the council and the newspaper. The council will also cease sending press releases and invitations to the publication, although reporters may still attend public meetings. The ban has drawn widespread criticism from local MPs, journalists, and opposition parties, who describe it as a severe attack on free press and local democracy, warning it signals troubling prospects if Reform UK gains national power. Reform UK nationally claims to champion free speech, but critics accuse the party of hypocrisy and authoritarian tendencies, emphasizing that elected officials need to remain accountable to constituents through media scrutiny. Nottinghamshire Live's editor, Natalie Fahy, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the ban, stressing the importance of press access for transparency and public accountability.