A Reform Party local government has overturned its ban on journalists from the region's biggest regional publication after being threatened with legal proceedings over infringing on the outlet's freedom of expression.
The Notts council, which has been governed by the Reform party since the municipal polls earlier this year, declared it was dedicated to the principles of transparency” after removing the sanctions it had imposed on journalists from the local paper and its website.
The newspaper will now again be invited to public council events and will be added to the council’s mailing list for official announcements. The prohibition had been enforced for more than a month and had been criticized by political leaders and local MPs.
“The council confirms that your clients are and remain entitled to attend events, sessions which are publicly accessible,” an official communication states.
The reversal came just a short time after the publication submitted the council with a legal letter outlining further action it was considering taking.
The company argued the council was violating local government regulations and a key provision of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), which protects free speech and the right to express opinions “without restriction without state intervention”.
The ban was imposed by the council’s leader, after he objected to an article about splits in his group over local government reorganisation plans.
A letter from the county council’s legal affairs manager stated the measures had been the result of some “misunderstanding or confusion”.
It is still uncertain whether the council leader is prepared to be interviewed by the outlet.
The head of the publication said: “I am glad this unprecedented prohibition has been lifted and the issue settled so that we can continue to get on with our jobs as we typically do.
“That means asking questions of elected council officials, having access to government data and gatherings and ensuring accountability on behalf of our residents in Nottinghamshire.
“This delivers a clear signal that the press will not yield if our freedoms are attacked.”
The publication head had earlier remarked the incident was a concerning sign of things to come should the party establish the next administration.
The restriction had previously been partially lifted when it was withdrawn from a team of publicly supported civic reporters that the publication also oversees. However, the restrictions stayed enforced on other staff until now.
