REFORM has been accused of censorship and free speech hypocrisy after blocking journalists, including the Morning Star’s, from its Senedd manifesto launch today.

Political journalist Will Hayward revealed he had not been allowed to attend the event having questioned the leaders of Plaid Cymru, Welsh Labour and the Welsh Conservatives at their campaign launches this week.

He said: “Just a few weeks ago they were threatening to defund a Welsh uni [Bangor] after they accused it of not supporting free speech.

“Banning journalists is very Donald Trump and undermines a key pillar of our democracy.”

Reform has struggled with questions over its candidates and elected officials in recent years, including former Welsh leader Nathan Gill, who admitted taking bribes in return for making pro-Russian statements and is now serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “Reform love to posture as defenders of free speech, but the moment a journalist might ask difficult questions, they resort to censorship.

“That is staggering hypocrisy.

“This isn’t about free speech at all, it’s about control. Reform wants the freedom to say whatever they like without being challenged, while trying to silence anyone who might hold them to account.”

The Reform leader of Nottinghamshire County Council abruptly banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors “with immediate effect” in August.

Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live, alongside BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Reform was contacted for comment.