Nottingham Green Party, representing Gedling and Rushcliffe Boroughs as well as the City of Nottingham, calls for the leadership of Nottinghamshire County Council to urgently reconsider their refusal to engage with the local media.
The Guardian and Nottinghamshire Live have reported that the county council will no longer deal with Nottinghamshire Live and The Nottingham Post, or the county’s local democracy journalists. Following these reports, Nottingham Green Party voices its condemnation of the council’s move to avoid democratic scrutiny. Local democracy requires transparency and accountability to thrive, and we believe this lack of engagement shows nothing but contempt for the county’s residents and voters. Green Party peer, Baroness Bennett, commenting on the Guardian article on bluesky, pointed to the council’s avoidance of accountabily by asking “Seems they don’t want democratic scrutiny. Wonder why?”
Our local press plays an essential part in keeping elected representatives accountable, especially in times when accurate reporting is vital to ensure reliable information. Being open with the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is therefore a cornerstone of democracy. As a grassroots-led movement, rooted in people and communities, we always aim to support and cooperate with the fantastic journalists at Notts Live and at the local democracy service, and will continue to do so.