Leader of Reform-run council accused of ‘authoritarian’ attempt to silence opposition

Jo Monk, the Reform UK leader of Worcestershire county council, demanded in a letter that a Labour city councillor stop publishing or sharing ‘videos, posts or commentary’ about her or the party. Photograph: Reform UK

The leader of a Reform UK-run local authority has been criticised for an “authoritarian” attempt to silence opposition after sending a legal threat to a Labour councillor, demanding he stops mentioning her name in public.

Ed Kimberley, a Worcester city councillor, said he received the cease and desist letter from the leader of Worcestershire county council, Jo Monk, in late November.