Key facts
- Reform UK denied accreditation to journalists Anna Isaac, Peter Geoghegan, and Michael Crick for its annual conference.
- The party initially reinstated passes but then reversed the decision, citing administrative errors.
- Journalists Isaac, Geoghegan, and Crick have previously reported critically on Reform UK and Nigel Farage.
- Isaac's reporting uncovered an undeclared £5m gift to Farage and potential money-laundering concerns.
- Geoghegan published revelations about negative comments made by a pro-Reform journalist regarding a donor.
- Crick, a biographer of Farage, has published unflattering details about him.
- The NUJ and The Guardian condemned the ban, highlighting the importance of media freedom and accountability.
Reform UK has denied accreditation to at least three journalists who have published critical reporting on the party and its leader, Nigel Farage, ahead of its annual conference. The Guardian's city editor, Anna Isaac, investigative reporter Peter Geoghegan, and broadcaster Michael Crick were initially informed their credentials had been declined.
Following inquiries from The Guardian, the three journalists received emails stating their passes had been reinstated. However, Reform UK later issued a statement calling this an administrative error and confirming their exclusion from the event. A party spokesperson stated that Geoghegan and Crick were considered minor figures and declined to comment on Isaac's specific case, though they noted she could watch a livestream.
Isaac's reporting previously revealed an undeclared £5m gift to Farage and transactions that led to potential money-laundering concerns being reported to the National Crime Agency. Geoghegan's recent work exposed alleged negative comments made by a pro-Reform journalist about a party donor. Crick, who published an unflattering biography of Farage, expressed his surprise at the ban, suggesting the party leadership might not want him speaking to members.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and The Guardian have condemned the decision, emphasizing the importance of a free press in holding political parties accountable. The NUJ pointed to a broader pattern of intimidation against journalists and urged all parties to uphold media freedom.