Hadleigh councillor and former Babergh chair Kathryn Grandon has failed to have complaints against Nub News upheld by the press watchdog.

Cllr Grandon complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) by two articles which appeared in Hadleigh Nub News last November, which she claimed were inaccurate and amounted to harassment.

The two articles referred to Cllr Grandon's involvement in attending a protest gathering in Hadleigh which led to criminal charges being brought against Iain Grutchfield, who was subsequently convicted.

The first article headlined; "Attempt to promote respectful politics dredges up council rifts by Hadleigh councillor as Tory leader votes against motion" which reported on a meeting of the council, during which a motion was approved to support the Local Government Association's (LGA) campaign against the abuse of politicians. The article stated that the complainant and another councillor "were known to have taken part in [a] protest, which led to a Hadleigh Conservative being arrested and handed a suspended sentence".

Cllr Grandon went to car park but did not join convoy (Picture: Nub News)

The second article headlined; "Wise words as Rowland Taylor's Ghost gets to the point", was a satirical comment piece that focused on the "virtue signalling behind the [LGA's] Debate not Hate campaign, recently endorsed by Babergh councillors". While condoning the "use of threats and intimidation", the article referenced an incident "when 'Footsie' Grutchfield led the likes of Councillors 'Queenie' Dawson and 'Grandone' Grandon to remonstrate with 'Generalissimo' Ward and some [by] joining a convoy and ended up scaring [the child of the Council's leader], who was home alone at the time."

Cllr Grandon also referred IPSO to a meeting held between her and the council's vice chair Derek Davis, who is also Hadleigh Nub News editor, when she told him in her role as chair she did not want hm to attend the charity dinner, due to his role as editor.

He refused as he felt she was abusing her position as chair and it would be wrong to give in to her inappropriate demands as he had a duty as councillor to attend, She did not like his response and complained.

However, IPSO ruled there was no evidence the meeting was anything other than as councillors and he was not responding in his role as editor.

IPSO ruled there had been no breach of Clause 3, which covers harassment.

Cllr Grandon was replaced as chair by another Independent councillor in May 2023, while councillor Davis was appointed onto the new Babergh Cabinet.

IPSO also ruled as Cllr Grandon as it was not in dispute that she had been present at the location where the protest assembled and from which the convey commenced. In such circumstances, the Committee did not consider that the articles were inaccurate or misleading. Therefore, there was no breach of Clause 1.

Full IPSO ruling here...