Overview

• Nottinghamshire County Council’s Reform leadership ordered officials to drop Nottinghamshire Live and BBC-funded LDRS reporters from media lists, stop invitations, and refuse interviews with all 41 Reform councillors.
• The policy allows statements only during emergencies such as flooding, incidents at council-run schools, adult social care or public safety issues, though reporters may still attend public meetings.
• Reform UK’s national spokesperson said the decision was made by the local group and affirmed support for free speech, declining to overturn the ban.
• Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said he would join the boycott, as the Society of Editors, former council leaders and the Liberal Democrats condemned the move and urged Nigel Farage to push for a reversal.
• The dispute followed coverage of proposed local government reorganisation that cited claims dissenting councillors faced possible suspension, heightening scrutiny of transparency at an authority serving about 800,000 residents.