Reform now say the 'Post is an activist' organisation - texts with county leader show that is false

COUNTY COUNCIL LEADER MICK BARTON IMPOSED A BAN ON OUR JOURNALISTS

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

TODAY the Nottingham Post is taking the unusual step of publishing the content of text messages between our reporter and the leader of Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council, as we continue our battle against a ban on our journalists.

The messages demonstrate that, far from waging a war against the party, we took the same effort we always do to be fair and balanced before publishing the piece that started this all off.

As a reminder, we wrote a story about the important upcoming council decision on local government reorganisation, including a claim that some councillors would be suspended if they did not back leader Mick Barton’s preference on the issue.

Reform UK at the national level have been remarkably quiet until now on the unprecedented ban on our journalists.

But Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has now made certain comments about our journalism which cannot go without a firm rebuttal.

Tice has labelled the Post an “activist” organisation which has acted in “a way of activism against Reform”.

He also said that the ban was justified “if a certain media organisation distorts and completely acts in an irresponsible way”.

We would not normally reveal behind-the-scenes conversations with politicians, but feel we have been forced into this position to correct the public smears on our journalists.

Last week, Mick Barton, Reform leader of the county council, confirmed the ban against the Post, our wesbite Nottinghamshire Live, and the team of Local Democracy Reporters we manage. It means our reporters will be banned from interviews with him or any of his 40 colleagues.