"A Reform UK council has ended its ban on journalists from the area's biggest local newspaper after being threatened with legal action over damaging the outlet's freedom of expression. Nottinghamshire county council, which has been led by Reform since the local elections earlier this year, said it was committed to the principles of openness after lifting the sanctions it had placed on journalists from the Nottingham Post and its website, Nottinghamshire Live."
"The newspaper will now again be invited to public council events and will be added to the council's distribution list for press releases. The ban had been in place for more than a month and had been condemned by Keir Starmer and local MPs. The climbdown came just days after the outlet, owned by Reach, presented the council with a legal letter setting out further action would be taken without a rethink."
"The company said the council was breaching local government regulations and article 10 of the European convention on human rights, which protects freedom of expression and the right to express opinions freely without government interference. The ban was imposed by the council's leader, Mick Barton, after he objected to a story about splits in his group over local government reorganisation plans."
Nottinghamshire county council lifted a ban on journalists from the Nottingham Post and Nottinghamshire Live after the newspaper's owner threatened legal action over alleged breaches of freedom of expression. The council, led by Reform UK, committed to openness and reinstated invitations to public events and inclusion on press release distribution lists. The ban lasted more than a month and attracted condemnation from national and local politicians. Reach argued the council breached local government regulations and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The restrictions were imposed by council leader Mick Barton after he objected to coverage about splits in his group.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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