Lib Dems slam Reform council as “bad Vance tribute band” and call on Farage to expel leader as local journalists banned until they ‘apologise’

Responding to reporting that Reform council leader Mick Barton will keep local democracy reporters banned from reporting on the council until they ‘apologise’, Max Wilkinson MP, Liberal Democrat Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson and former local journalist, said:

“Reform’s gang of councillors are acting like a bad JD Vance tribute band.

“Politicians demanding that those on the side of democracy grovel and apologise without reason — we saw and condemned that behaviour in Trump’s Oval Office. It’s horrendous to see it happening in Britain.

"As a former local journalist I'm appalled to see Reform's disregard for basic transparency.

"Farage must step in and expel Barton from Reform immediately. He is not fit to grace public office.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Max worked as a local journalist before becoming an MP, including for the Weston Mercury and the Cheltenham paper the Gloucestershire Echo.

Please see reporting on the story here from Nottinghamshire Live: x.com/OliverPridmore/status/1962827165650551205