Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson has won a handsome five-figure payout and an apology from Essex’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Roger Hirst, after suing him for defamation over allegations she had incited racial hatred. Finally…
Two police offers turned up at Pearson’s door in November 2024 over an ancient tweet that they claimed could amount to a non-crime hate incident (NCHI). They wouldn’t disclose what that tweet was. Hirst’s claim that on LBC that he “can’t go around ignoring crimes just because it’s politically sensitive” were judged to be defamatory. Pearson said after her win:
“The fact remains that this should never have happened. It is deplorable that over 12,000 of our fellow citizens were targeted each year for social media posts, often on the say-so of unknown individuals who need only claim to have experienced offence or hatred. It’s hard to think of anything less British.
“Although the damage was done to me on Remembrance Sunday, two-tier political policing affects anyone with a different viewpoint. My case against Essex police continues. I hope this sends a message to elected commissioners.”
Labour has since scrapped NCHIs, for the obvious reason that sending officers to investigate journalists over tweets is a waste of time (and in this case, a lot of money for Hirst). Time to cough up…
German Politico owner Axel Springer’s £575 million purchase of the Telegraph has been approved by the government. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a written Commons statement:
“In my quasi-judicial role I have assessed the proposed merger between Axel Springer and the Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd under the public interest media mergers regime and the foreign state influence regime as set out in the Enterprise Act 2002. I am currently not minded to intervene in this merger under either regime on the basis of the evidence available to me at this time. I am pleased to be able to take these positive steps, which give greater certainty to the Telegraph and its staff.”
Mathias Dopfner, Axel Springer CEO, said: “We are pleased to have received UK government approval to proceed with this acquisition. After a long period of uncertainty, we can confirm that we will invest significantly in The Telegraph’s editorial excellence and international growth.” New era…
The Telegraph has gone very big on Starmer’s contribution to a book by disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner in which he carps about the ECHR’s uses in prosecuting British troops. Their ‘exclusive’ investigation may sound familiar to co-conspirators…
Guido revealed that Starmer had contributed an entire chapter to Shiner’s book. In December 2024…
Starmer’s chapter was titled “Responsibility for Troops Abroad: UN-Mandated Forces and Issues of Human Rights Accountability.” Using one example Starmer explicitly argued that the ECHR’s jurisdiction should extend such that troops in action could be prosecuted more readily. Shiner – prior to being struck off – provided glowing praise for Starmer in the foreword of his book. Why won’t sharks attack human rights lawyers? Out of professional courtesy…
The Mail, the Telegraph, and the Times all reported claims that Bell had splashed £900 of taxpayers’ cash on a fancy new desk for his office. Bell denied it. The articles have now mysteriously vanished…
Good to see @DailyMail @thetimes and @Telegraph all delete their articles – sad the lies went up in the first place https://t.co/zQhncYFUyR
— Torsten Bell (@TorstenBell) October 27, 2025
Credit where it’s due: it looks like Bell ended up forcing all three outlets to withdraw their stories. For all the latest real news on Budget Man Bell, click here…
Lord Khan in the Telegraph: “I hope, and I say this in a non-pompous way, that the public service I do will bring rewards in this world and the hereafter,” he says. “I’m hoping the work I do is earning me Brownie points.”