We are now hearing, as yet unconfirmed, that Johann Hari has returned his Orwell Prize.
In an envelope.
In the post. UPDATE: Delivered by courier.
With no note.
And no cheque…
The Orwell Prize will not confirm…
UPDATE:
Twenty minutes ago we put this story to Gavin Freeguard of the Media Standards Trust. Asked if Hari had returned the prize he said no.
Hari has admitted the whole thing. The fakery, being “David Rose”, the works. He is going to retrain, apologise and come back in 2012.
Absolute cowardice from the Indy.
UPDATE II: Hari is apparently going to Columbia to study journalism. Pah.
UPDATE III: The Indy says: “The report on his conduct is a private one and will not be published”.
Word reaches Guido from someone who claims to be in the know – apparently Johann Hari won’t be sacked from the Indy. The statement will apparently be distributed simultaneously with Hari boarding a plane.
He is still set to lose the Orwell Prize after the committee unanimously voted to strip him of the award but delayed the announcement until after the Indy had completed their inquiry.
At this moment he must stress this is a rumour, but Guido is wondering where Johann might be off to…
Presumably not Dubai again…
Bad news for those supporting of a Palestinian State – The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s ambassador to the US said yesterday that the planned state should be free of Jews. Can any historians out there remind us of the last state to proclaim such an idea?
Only two Tory MPs are signed up to the EDM supporting the state and the debate is raging in the Foreign Office about whether the UK should or should not vote in favour Palestinian Statehood at the UN in a few weeks time This should make that decision a little easier…
Des Pardes, the UK’s most popular Punjabi newspaper are sticking it to Ealing MP Virendra Sharma and his dodgy £5,000 donation from the Indian government. As Guido reported yesterday, the Electoral Commission are on the case. Funnily enough Sharma isn’t willing to talk to Guido on the phone. Something to hide perhaps?
Ed tries a joke at PMQs:
“The Chancellor has lashed himself to the mast… not for the first time perhaps.”
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