Saralnama
Nottinghamshire’s Reform council has banned its 41 councillors from talking to the Nottingham Post and Nottinghamshire Live. The ban started after a story about local government plans. The council leader, Mick Barton, stopped all contact with the newspaper and its reporters. Press officers were told to remove Nottinghamshire Live from media lists. The newspaper editor called this a big attack on local democracy. Local MPs from other parties said the ban goes against free speech and transparency. They want Reform leader Nigel Farage to stop this decision. The ban means councillors will only speak to the paper in emergencies like floods or school incidents. Critics say this move hides information from the public and shuts down questions. The Reform party did not comment on the ban. This case shows how local democracy can be affected when officials refuse to talk to the press. To support democracy, councils should allow reporters to ask questions and share news with the public. (Updated 28 Aug 2025, 10:46 IST; source: link)