A journalist was left stunned after a councillor called for him to be sent to a different room during a meeting – on the grounds that his presence restricted HER “freedom of speech”.

Rachel Flynn called for reporters to be put in a separate room when “contentious issues” were being debated during a meeting of Denbighshire County Council.

The meeting in question was being covered by Jez Hemming, pictured, senior reporter for the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service based with the Daily Post and North Wales Live.

Councillor Flynn, who represents Prestatyn North for the Conservatives, told the meeting press and public presences sometimes “put the pressure on” during debates.

She said: “A couple of times there have been situations where we have had the press in the room when it’s been a slightly contentious issue and I have felt it’s hampered the process in my opinion.

“We had a big audience when we had the Traveller issues. A lot of the public were there and it put the pressure on quite a lot I would say.

“It’s really about when we have contentious issues perhaps. I know we can’t exclude the press but maybe having them watching from another room or something like that.

“I just wanted to make that point that sometimes it feels like we can’t have that freedom of speech on issues.”

Speaking to HTFP, Jez said: “It was disappointing to hear a councillor want to physically separate journalists from the corridors of local democracy.

“Sometimes society’s only weapon against misinformation and spin in this new political landscape is how we both report on and dig into what politicians say and do.

“I was stunned by the notion I should hide away in order for any politician to say what they really think. Saying what they really think and believe should be the very lowest expectation of them in any public situation.

“The heartening thing has been the volume of support for what we do, from local politicians in particular, since the story broke.”

Following Cllr Flynn’s comments, the council’s head of democratic services Gary Williams explained the press were invited “to be the public’s eyes and ears” during meetings.

And addressing Cllr Flynn, Independent council member Mark Young told her: “I am deeply stunned with what you have shared with me. I think good journalism adds to the process rather than takes away from it.

“All meetings with elected members should be open to the public and journalists. I take the point about different meetings being more pressured but you can’t cherry pick.

“I value the scrutiny from the public and journalists and long may it continue. To exclude journalists would be exclude democracy.”

When approached after the meeting, Cllr Flynn said her main concern was about meetings where councillors had not had a “pre-meeting”.

Clarifying her earlier comments, she said she does not now think the “system needs changing” and “didn’t really want to put journalists in another room”.

She added: “Having journalists in the room puts you under pressure, which isn’t a bad thing because it makes you think about what you say more.

“But this morning we were talking about the subject of scrutiny and I just thought it warranted saying that sometimes, in certain cases, I feel it would make me less inhibited.

“What I disagree is the way it is misconstrued at times. It happens so much. I suppose it’s the job of the press to get a headline and the words are twisted.

“Sometimes having the press there can make you say something in a way you wouldn’t have, had you thought about it.”