Reform UK council boycotts reporter over pothole and garden gate stories

Reform UK-run Derbyshire county council has announced it will no longer engage with Derbyshire Live journalist Eddie Bisknell, a move criticized as a dangerous precedent for transparency. The council stated that Bisknell's inquiries would be ignored following a 'prolonged period of concerns,' which included reporting on potholes and a story about a fence panel installed in a resident's garden.

According to Stephen Reed, the council's deputy leader, the decision was not an outright ban, as Bisknell can still attend public events and write about the council. However, he confirmed that the council would not respond to his requests for information, stating that the administration wants to be scrutinised but believes the reporting has not been fair and balanced.

Bisknell, who is funded by the BBC to cover local democracy, had reportedly raised questions about the statistics used in a council press release claiming a significant reduction in potholes. The council's decision to cease engagement with him emerged after this story, though Reed stated the decision had been made prior to the garden fence story.

Natalie Fahy, editor-in-chief for Reach, which owns Derbyshire Live, described the council's action as a ban and criticized the 'double speak.' The Society of Editors and the NUJ have urged the council to reverse its decision, emphasizing the importance of transparency and open dialogue between public bodies and the press.