Free speech row erupts after council bans journalist who revealed pensioner was blocked access to her own garden

The 81-year-old retired teacher won a three-year, £50,000 fight against the council over the right to walk through her own back gate.

Mrs Ball's story went viral, being published on national and international news outlets, including GB News.

However, the council has now confirmed it would no longer engage with Mr Bisknell, who covers local politics in Derbyshire as part of the BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Speaking to the BBC, Deputy Council leader Stephen Reed suggested Mr Bisknell's story about Mrs Ball should not have been published because it related to "ongoing legal proceeding".

He claimed the council had only been given four hours to respond to allegations it had "bullied" Mrs Ball, adding the result was a story that was "at worst irresponsible and at best an editorial opinion without all the facts".

Mr Reed insisted they would still engage with local press but would refuse to engage with any requests for comment or information from Mr Bisknell specifically.

The Reform UK-led council has been slammed

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In a response, DerbyshireLive has stood by Mr Bisknell, refuting the council's claims they were only given four hours to respond to the query about Mrs Ball by posting a screenshot of email correspondence.

Editor-in-Chief Natalie Fahy said: "We’ll still be able to attend meetings, but it appears we won’t be allowed to ask vital questions of the people in charge of Derbyshire, simply because Eddie has been a bit of a thorn in the council’s side (as any good journalist should be).

"As for Eddie’s previous run-ins with the council, there has not been a single official complaint addressed to me directly.

"I know the council has been unhappy about some articles, but complaining on Facebook is not the correct way to resolve an article you believe to be inaccurate or wrong.

"We utterly reject this attack on our journalism, stand fully opposed to the false claims made about Eddie’s and our editorial practices and urge Cllr Reed to retract his press releases."

The Derby Telegraph has defended its reporter

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She continued: "It is a disgrace that the BBC allowed this interview to be broadcast without alerting us or offering us a chance to respond.

"This ban is an attack on democracy, on the freedom of the press and most importantly on the public’s right to know what goes on at County Hall."

A BBC spokesman said: "Independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals.

"We urge both sides in seeking a resolution."

Reform UK has been at loggerheads with local journalists

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It is not the first time Reform UK-led councils have been at loggerheads with local journalists.

Reporters from the Nottingham Post were banned from speaking to any Reform UK councillors by leader Mick Barton following a row over a story on local government reorganisation, with the ban later lifted.

Councillors at Suffolk County Council were instructed by Ipswich’s Reform chairman Shayne Pooley to ignore any requests from local reporters.

Mr Pooley told one local news editor his councillors had "no need to offer you a sound bite."

Mick Barton was accused of blocking democracy

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Responding to the Nottingham incident, Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said it was a "disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism".

Labour MP for Mansfield Steve Yemm added: "Shutting the door on local journalists doesn't just block criticism, it cuts off residents from the facts.

"Whether you agree with every headline or not, local media keeps the public informed and those in power honest."

Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson, called it a "dangerous and chilling" decision, adding: "Reform's move to block local journalists from reporting on their work is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook."