Isabel Oakeshott Suing The Guardian For Defamation

Isabel Oakeshott is suing the The Guardian after it suggested that the way in which she got her agenda setting diplomatic cables scoop over the weekend was by sleeping with either Nigel Farage or Arron Banks. She has hired hardball lawyer Donal Blaney to secure the removal of the comments and an apology…

In the print version of an article by The Guardian’s John Crace, the paper published the line “Not least because the only way Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who got the leaked emails, ever gets a scoop is if Nigel or Arron Banks slips it to her.” In the online version this read “Not least because the only way Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who got the leaked emails, ever gets a scoop is if he or Arron Banks leave it conveniently tucked under her pillow.” Guido is sure he wasn’t talking about a tooth fairy situation…

It has now been changed a third time to “… the only way Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who got the leaked emails, ever gets a scoop is if he or Arron Banks leave it conveniently to one side for her.” Not sure that is any better than slips it under the pillow. Now it sounds like a tip being left for a hooker.

Oakeshott is demanding the following;

  1. The Guardian must pay £3,000 towards Ms Oakeshott’s legal costs.
  2. The Article must be taken down, and no similar comments to those complained of in this letter must ever be published again by The Guardian and/or Mr Crace.
  3. An apology must be published, in terms to be agreed with Ms Oakeshott, through us, online, on social media and in the print edition of The Guardian in as prominent a place as the Article appeared.
  4. The Guardian must pay a sum to be agreed in damages to Ms Oakeshott to compensate her for the damage and distress that she has suffered as a result of the Article and the comments complained of.

They have until 4pm on Friday to comply, otherwise legal proceedings will be commenced…

July 10, 2019 at 3:24 pm
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First Class Awkwardness at Diane’s Expense

Viewers may have detected a slight edge to the Question Time exchanges last night between Isabel Oakeshott and Diane Abbott. The awkwardness began earlier in the evening on the train to Derby when they found themselves sat next to each other in First Class. Diane was, according to Guido’s source in the carriage, not amused to find herself sat next to the ‘Bad Girl of Brexit’. Small talk was limited on the journey.

When they arrived at Derby station, Diane somehow managed to drop her money on the floor. She struggled to pick up the money, which given Diane’s generous size she was finding difficult to retrieve from under the table and chairs. Since the train would soon be pulling out of the station, Isabel helped pick up the coins, lest Question Time’s other guest should miss her station. Handing the cash back to Diane, Isabel quipped “I’m tempted to make a political point about Labour’s recklessness with money.” The other First Class passengers laughed. Diane responded with her trademark death stare…

January 18, 2019 at 2:10 pm
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Oakeshott vs Cadwalladr: “Will You Investigate Remain Campaign?”

A fiery exchange between Isabel Oakeshott and Carole Cadwalladr over the Observer splash this morning. Isabel challenged Cadwalladr:

“I feel this is utterly baffling to most people… you’ve been incredibly persistent, incredibly dogged, but at the end of it all I think you’ve proved is that Cambridge Analytica is a pretty dodgy and bad company… I have one question for you, are you going to apply this same forensic investigation to the remain campaign?”

Cadwalladr replied:

“This isn’t about remain or leave.”

Quelle surprise…

March 25, 2018 at 10:46 am
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Question Time’s Brexit Hero

Last Question Time of the year last night and this Brexiteer’s contribution might just be the best of the 2017 series. The audience member tore into both Nicky Morgan and Rebecca Long-Bailey over their respective failings on Brexit – then Isabel Oakeshott roasted NiMo for her rebellion. Good stuff…

December 15, 2017 at 8:05 am
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Concerns Raised About Chappers

James Chapman’s painful live-tweeted breakdown is the subject of growing concerns among his friends in Westminster. It is not hard to understand why Chapman is anguished. He was being eased out of the Daily Mail pol-ed role when he took up Osborne’s offer to spin for him. That’s the source of his surprisingly vicious animus against Dacre. He haughtily told everyone on the way out of Northcliffe House that he would be in No. 10 in due course, lording it over them when Osborne ascended to the premiership. Things did not quite work out that way.

For some time after Osborne’s sacking he was in limbo, eventually taking the role with David Davis at DExEU for which he was so unsuited. He then became a partner at lobbyists Bell Pottinger, his ability as a lobbyist counselling clients specifically on Brexit may be a little hindered by his very public and frequent meltdowns where he has attacked almost all the people clients might hope he had some influence with; government ministers, newspaper editors, not to mention influential journalists who write about his clients. His Trumpish tweets are not a conventional method of communication for usually discreet lobbyists. Never mind his publicly stated plans to set up a new party and stand for it at a by-election. Clients might see that as compromising his counsel and judgement just a teensy weensy bit.

On Facebook and Instagram there have been grim late night posts – subsequently deleted. Chapman was escorted out of parliament a few weeks ago after a particularly drunken episode. He has abused those who have tried to reason with him. All this has been an open secret in SW1 for weeks. His shouty crackers performance on the Today Programme brought it all into the open for the wider public. He has also to some extent gone public himself with his hundreds of round-the-clock tweets. Today he has flipped out with David Davis when only recently he told everyone he was on good terms with him. He’s demanded an emergency recall of parliament and challenged the PM to a public debate in Parliament Square, last week he claimed cabinet members were on the verge of defecting to his party. He’s called for Brexit-supporting publications to be shut down. He sometimes asks people like JK Rowling and Hillary Clinton to follow him on Twitter so he can directly message them. His tweets suggest that in his mind he thinks he is Britain’s answer to Macron leading his own party, “The Democrats”. We’ll pass over the naked Instagram selfies. In all this he is being egged on by idiots on Twitter, every bit of praise and support feeding into his mania.

Some former colleagues are going public, most are keeping their counsel private:

Many, many Remainers are in James’ mentions as well telling him to take a break from Twitter for his own sake. Sadly James can only see conspiracy:

These fears would explain why David Davis stopped short of kicking him too hard this morning. It’s sad to watch.

August 15, 2017 at 4:28 pm
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Isabel Oakeshott: Wikipedia is Hotbed of Fake News

Wales was no match for Isabel…

May 2, 2017 at 3:14 pm
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Who’s on Question Time Tonight?

February 23, 2017 at 8:16 pm
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Isabel Oakeshott Leaves Mail

January 26, 2017 at 10:30 am
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Isabel Has News For Hislop

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Isabel Oakeshott clearly has strong views on the pious comb dodging editor of Private Eye, judging by this currently being emailed round Hat Trick Productions. Funniest thing out of their offices for a long time…

September 15, 2016 at 4:51 pm
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Totty Watch Poll

totty

Debate swirls in Westminster about Tory MP Col Bob Stewart’s use of the word “totty” to describe the Speccie’s Isabel Hardman…

Isabel Oakeshott says: “Strong women don’t need to whine about sexists calling us ‘totty’”

Isabel Hardman says: “that is NOT on and lobby women shouldn’t have to put up with it. So I have passed the MP’s name on to a whip.”

Cathy Newman says: “I’m with Isabel on this… Isabel Hardman.”

Julia Hartley-Brewer says: “Many years ago I was at a dinner at a Conservative Party conference with a couple of MPs. One of those MPs kept putting his hand on my knee. The third time I removed his hand and said it is very simple, either you don’t put my hand on my knee again or I am going to punch you in the face.”

Who are you backing? Take Guido’s poll…

April 14, 2016 at 3:59 pm
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James Slack New Mail Pol-Ed

Guido understands that James Slack, the Mail’s Home Affairs editor who has been leading the politics coverage since James Chapman’s departure, will be the new Political Editor. Slack will be in charge of the day to day running of the politics team. As tipped by Guido back in May…

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Isabel Oakeshott’s mooted role, as a Pol Ed “at large”, will be more about scoring big hits and doing comment. Though nothing has been signed…

October 30, 2015 at 11:38 am
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Dacre Lines Up Isabel Oakeshott for Daily Mail Pol-Ed “At Large”

ISABEL

Reliable sources tell Guido that Paul Dacre is lining up Isabel Oakeshott to be the Daily Mail’s political editor “at large”. Appointing the irrepressible Isabel is being interpreted in the Kensington newsroom as Dacre giving a two-fingered salute to Downing Street. Contracts have not yet been signed…

UPDATE: Roger Alton is also joining the Mail as an exec of some kind.

October 30, 2015 at 8:50 am
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Cameron Allegations: Toby Young vs Isabel Oakeshott

September 22, 2015 at 8:59 am
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Ashcroft Warns Cameron Book an “Obit”

political-book-wards

Speaking at last night’s Political Book of the Year Awards at the iMax, Lord Ashcroft who was sponsoring the affair warned that next year he would not be able to if his upcoming “obit… I meant biography” of David Cameron is nominated. It is still not completely clear whether the book written with Isabel Oakeshott will be out before or after the election…

Elsewhere Bercow was slaughtered by Rory Bremner over the Commons gym. Dan Jarvis sort of denied he wanted the Labour top job, though he did enigmatically concede to Guido that some in the party were not talking to people in the right way. Andrew Mitchell did not look too impressed being invited to the stage to present an award as “Cyclist of the Year” with a rictus grin as Bremner politely asked “Mr Mitchell we are live on CCTV, please do not swear…”

January 29, 2015 at 9:05 am
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Isabel’s Pursuit of the PM

isabel-oakeshott-david-cameron

Isabel Oakeshott is one determined journalist – “gangster” is how one of her admiring colleagues described her to Guido – her forthcoming biography of David Cameron is looking under all the rocks. Alas no interview with the man himself has been possible. Still, she is trying hard…

January 6, 2015 at 7:55 am
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