THE draft media policy proposed by Witney Town Council that would ban councillors from speaking out without written permission should concern everyone who values democracy.

You may consider a town council pretty small beer but the principle is an important one.

Councillors are voted for by the public and their decisions are most often funded by you, the taxpayer.

It is an affront to a free society that a democratically elected person should be unable to give their opinion about the council’s business until they get granted permission by some controlling influence.

That is the type of behaviour of banana republics, not the local town council in the constituency of the British Prime Minister.

If the councillors of Witney truly believe in an open and transparent democracy then this foolish clause should be swept away with the contempt it deserves.