Reform 'think they are beyond criticism' says editor

The editor who fought to overturn a Reform UK-run council's ban on her title has accused the party of "arrogance" after it refused to speak to journalists following its local election success.

As reported on HTFP this week, Reform councillors in Suffolk snubbed the local press after their victory in last week's poll, saying they "did not need to offer you a soundbite."

It led Nottingham Post editor Natalie Fahy, whose title was banned by Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council last year, to question what the party has to hide.

In an editorial, she also revealed that Reform MP Lee Anderson had "belittled" the Post's agenda editor Oliver Pridmore at a recent press conference.

Wrote Natalie: "The early signs are that Reform’s big success is leading them to a place of arrogance. They think they are beyond criticism and don’t need to speak to the media or answer questions on behalf of the very people who voted for them.

"Councillors at Suffolk County Council have been refusing to engage with local press already, obeying an edict by Ipswich’s Reform chairman Shayne Pooley.

“Neither we or the voters need you,” he retorted in a Facebook post after the election.

"Over in the West Midlands, candidates standing for election in Sandwell were told by none other than Ashfield MP Lee Anderson - who we know has been advising councillors in Nottinghamshire - to ‘beware of the media’

"Let me give you a word of advice, beware of the media, don’t speak to them, you’ve no need to, you’ve actually no need to speak to the papers, TV and radio at all.”

"This is the same Lee Anderson who made a point of belittling our reporter Oliver Pridmore at a recent press call to announce the roll-out of JCB Pothole Pros in Nottinghamshire.

"The conversation went like this. A polite request for an interview, then: 'You’ve got two hopes - Bob Hope and no hope. Journalists have got a bad enough name and you, if you can even call yourself that, are one of the worst. Have a nice day.'

"We know Lee likes to perform in front of his Reform supporters and that this form of bullying will go down well with voters so I’ve been reluctant to publish this. But from what I’ve seen around the country since the elections, I think now it’s time to expose this behaviour again."

Oliver was the journalist who wrote the apparently innocuous article about local government reform that sparked last summer's ban.

Journalists from the Post were barred from speaking to councillors and officers for a month until the council was forced to drop the ban due to a legal challenge.

Addressing Post readers, Natalie added: "I am not saying you shouldn’t question or challenge what we publish, but without access to politicians, we will find it hard to get the pieces of information you need to put together the whole picture.

"At some point, things won’t be so rosy for Reform. It happens to all political parties. Then you will be glad you have us to ask those thorny questions for you.

"In the meantime journalists need to stand up, keep asking and keep reporting when the questions refuse to be answered.

"Because I truly wonder what Reform has got to hide."