Reform Council’s Nottingham Post Ban Sparks Outcry as ‘Attack on Local Democracy’

Published: 28 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Nottinghamshire has become the centre of a fierce row over press freedom after the county’s Reform-led council announced it would no longer engage with the Nottingham Post, its online edition Nottinghamshire Live, or the team of BBC-funded local democracy reporters managed by the outlet. The unprecedented move, ordered by council leader Mick Barton, has been condemned as a “massive attack on local democracy” and a dangerous indication of Reform’s wider political approach should the party form the next government.

Natalie Fahy, editor of the Nottingham Post and Nottinghamshire Live, confirmed that Barton had imposed the ban following a report on proposed local government restructuring, which allegedly highlighted divisions within Reform’s group of councillors. Fahy described the move as deeply troubling, warning it could foreshadow how Reform might treat the media if it gains national power.

“It’s a massive attack on local democracy,” Fahy said in an interview. “I’ve been a journalist for 20 years, and while councils have often disagreed with our reporting, most accept that scrutiny is part of public life. What you don’t do is shut the shop up. What we’re seeing in Nottinghamshire could be a microcosm of how Reform intends to deal with the press across the UK if Nigel Farage becomes prime minister. Elected officials must remain answerable to the people who voted them in. We don’t take a political stance—we’re not anti-Reform—we’re just doing our job.”

The ban means all 41 Reform councillors on Nottinghamshire County Council are forbidden from giving interviews or statements to the outlet, except in emergency situations such as flooding or school incidents. The council’s press officers have also been instructed to remove Nottinghamshire Live from official media distribution lists, cutting the newsroom off from press releases and event invitations.

The move has already sparked widespread backlash from political rivals and free speech advocates. The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene and reverse what they describe as a “dangerous and chilling” decision. They also suggested the ban could breach local government’s code of conduct, which obliges elected officials to “submit themselves to scrutiny.”

Several Labour MPs for Nottinghamshire constituencies have also voiced outrage. Michael Payne, MP for Gedling, branded the decision “rank hypocrisy,” saying: “Reform told us throughout the election, and continues to tell us, that they’re the party of free speech and transparency. But this ban proves those principles only apply when convenient for them.”

Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, said the council’s actions “set a chilling precedent,” adding: “Reform claim to be champions of free speech, yet they are exposing their true, authoritarian colours.” Jo White, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, described the ban as “a shutting down of democracy,” while Steve Yemm, MP for Mansfield, argued: “Refusing to speak to your local paper is not how you build trust. It’s how you hide.”

The controversy follows weeks of strained relations between the council and local media. Tensions first flared in June when a video clip of a Reform councillor struggling with policy questions went viral. Although relations briefly improved, Barton reportedly moved to sever ties after renewed disputes over coverage of government reorganisation plans.

The decision has now escalated into a national debate over Reform’s credibility on free speech and accountability. With Farage already under pressure to address the growing criticism, the party’s silence has only fuelled speculation about how Reform intends to govern if it gains power.

For now, Nottinghamshire stands as a stark warning of the challenges facing Britain’s local democracy, where elected officials’ willingness to submit to scrutiny is once again being tested.