The editor of the Nottingham Post has described Reform UK's decision to boycott her newspaper as a “massive attack on local democracy” and a warning of what could happen if the party forms the next government. Natalie Fahy told the Guardian that the ban, imposed by Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mick Barton, followed a story about local government restructuring plans.
In an unprecedented move, the four-month-old Reform administration stated it will no longer deal with the Nottingham Post, its online edition, or BBC-funded local democracy reporters. The ban applies to all 41 Reform councillors, who have been instructed not to speak to the outlet, while press officers will remove it from media distribution lists.
Fahy said she had been a journalist for 20 years and had dealt with many councils, adding: “What you don’t do is shut the shop up. This is a worrying sign of potentially things to come if Reform wins the next election. You are just going to see this kind of shutting down of questioning.” She stressed the paper was not anti-Reform but aimed to hold elected officials accountable.
Liberal Democrat councillors have written to Nigel Farage demanding he reverse the “dangerous and chilling” decision, suggesting it may breach the local government code of conduct. Labour MP Michael Payne accused Reform of “rank hypocrisy” over free speech. Reform MP Lee Anderson confirmed he would also join the boycott.
Barton defended the move in a Facebook statement, saying the council would not engage with media outlets that “consistently misrepresent” its policies. He cited “selective reporting, distortion, or omission” as justification, while allowing exceptions only for emergencies such as flooding or incidents at council-run schools.
The row escalated after a viral clip in June showed a Reform councillor struggling with their brief. Although relations later improved, Barton cut access after objecting to a story about local government reorganisation that included alleged disagreements within the Reform group.
