NUJ responds to Reform refusing to speak to local journalists in Nottinghamshire
The NUJ is deeply concerned by Reform UK’s decision to ban its councillors in Nottinghamshire from speaking to local journalists at Nottinghamshire Live.
In an unprecedented move, Reform council leader Mick Barton instructed the party’s 41 county councillors not to give interviews or send press releases to Nottinghamshire Live or its Local Democracy Reporters (LDRs). LDRs are funded by the BBC but serve a range of regional media partners as well as Reach plc, providing essential coverage on local issues.
The decision was taken after Barton objected to a story published by Nottinghamshire Live that documented claims of disagreement among Reform councillors over plans to expand Nottingham council. Nottinghamshire Live and its Nottingham Post newspaper, which has provided news to the city and county since 1878, will also not be invited to cover council events.
The NUJ affirms the public’s right to be informed and journalists’ right to report without fear or favour: subjecting elected politicians to media scrutiny is fundamental to the functioning of a healthy democracy.
Chris Morley, NUJ Northern & Midlands senior organiser, said:
"This is a really worrying development. It's a key part of a local newspaper's role to hold decision makers to account. If reporters are barred from interviewing key councillors about those decisions, it risks creating a vacuum of democracy. We hope that Reform rethink this very sudden and rash decision, and continue to engage with all parts of the local media."
The NUJ Reach LDR chapel said:
"As the union chapel representing local democracy reporters based at Reach Plc, including those in Nottinghamshire, we share our utmost disappointment and disbelief at the decision taken by Reform's Nottinghamshire County Council group and Ashfield MP, Reform's Lee Anderson.
"We wholly support the unrestricted and fettered right of the free press to scrutinise those in any elected office, of any political persuasion, without fear or favour.
"The actions of the Nottinghamshire Reform group and of Lee Anderson cannot be allowed to set a precedent for how the free press are treated in the UK now or in the future.
"Elected politicians, appointed by the public, need to defend their actions and statements to the press, who represent the interests of the wider public, not hide away in the shadows.
"Our members are hired through their BBC-funded contracts to scrutinise the decisions, actions and statements of local councils, their officials and councillors and that is exactly what they have been doing, regardless of the colour rosettes worn by the councillors in power on those authorities.
"Any politician worth their salt accepts that they will at some time or another be the subject of articles which they may not like, but those which they ultimately cannot control. It is part of the job and something that they are compensated for through a taxpayer-funded salary. If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
"Our members will continue to carry out their duties to the fullest in the name of public interest and we would urge the Nottinghamshire Reform group and Lee Anderson to remember that they have been elected to represent the public, not just their party or those who agree with them, and to revoke the ban."
The NUJ Nottingham branch issued the following statement:
“Reform UK has behaved towards the Nottingham Post and our Local Democracy Reporters in a way that is somehow both aggressive and cowardly. The local party leadership is trying to bully and coerce the Post and its reporters, and dictate terms, while at the same time hiding from democratic scrutiny over the way it is running Nottinghamshire County Council.
“Journalists ask questions of elected politicians on behalf of the people they are meant to represent. They hold politicians to account for the millions of pounds of public money they are spending. When politicians consider themselves above scrutiny, very dangerous things can happen. And only people who are afraid of the truth need to be afraid of questions.
“This move by Reform, which claims to support freedom of speech, is part of a sinister, growing wider trend of politicians and activist groups attacking journalists simply for doing their jobs. A trend of public figures bullying and pressuring journalists into reporting the 'truth' as they wish it to be presented, while deeply resenting any scrutiny and questioning in return.
“It must be resisted, and Reform must reverse its decision, for the good of the people of Nottinghamshire and for local democracy.”