“The reality is that Reform UK in Derbyshire were running scared of basic scrutiny.”

The House of Commons Leader has accused Derbyshire Reform UK of ‘running scared of basic scrutiny’ after it cut all contact with a local reporter.

During a House of Commons debate on Thursday, November 12, Labour MP for Erewash, Adam Thompson, criticised Reform UK for imposing a reporting ban on Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) Eddie Bisknell.

In September, Eddie Bisknell, who writes for the Derbyshire Times and Derby Telegraph under the BBC-funded LDR scheme, was told by Reform-led Derbyshire County Council that the authority would no longer engage with him.

The ban was announced by the council’s deputy leader Stephen Reed in a press release, following Eddie’s coverage of a dispute concerning access to a former council car park in Matlock - after resident Helene Ball, 81, won a three-year legal battle involving her garden gate she has used unopposed for 59 years, after it was blocked with a fence installed by the council in 2023.

The decision to ban Eddie echoed similar action taken by Reform in Nottinghamshire, where the leadership banned the party’s councillors from talking to the Nottingham Post.

Mr Thompson, raised the issue following an outcry from Labour MPs from across Derbyshire – and from the press.

The MP spoke of his “horror” over the ban, and said that while Eddie Bisknell rightly gave him his “fair share of robust scrutiny” in his role, he “deeply value[d] the enormous contribution that he makes to our community”.

Leader of the House of Commons Sir Alan Campbell shared concerns, putting on the record his “recognition of the important contribution that Local Democracy Reporters make in holding councils to account”.

Sir Alan added: “The reality is that Reform UK in Derbyshire were running scared of basic scrutiny.

“And that tells you everything that you need to know about their fitness, or rather their lack of fitness, for public office.”

The Cabinet Minister added the government “takes these matters seriously” as he encouraged Mr Thompson to pursue the issue further in Parliament.

Derbyshire County Council Leader Allan Graves said that the reporting ban has now been lifted.

Cllr Graves said: “Mr Thompson is weeks out of date. The council has been engaging with Eddie Bisknell for the last three to four weeks. That is a matter of record. A quick phone call to the council would have told him that.

“It is unfortunate that Mr Thompson feels this is the issue he should get involved with. Families in Erewash are dealing with high energy bills, rising food prices and pressure on household budgets. Those are areas where an MP in the governing party can actually make a difference.

“Perhaps he should use his time, and his staff's time, all paid for by the taxpayer, in a more fruitful manner. Here in Derbyshire, we will keep getting on with the job of delivering for residents.”