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;
- The Guardian must pay £3,000 towards Ms Oakeshott’s legal costs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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…
Congratulations to the Guardian for the most unpleasant headline of the day. John Crace, the man who writes their unfunny parliamentary sketches, had this to say about the Maggie Thatcher auction yesterday in a piece laced with bitterness:
“The old dear would have loved it, with her friends and enemies at last united. For there was one thing on which everyone could agree: she was worth a great deal more dead than she had been alive.”
Stay classy.
Of course, this is the same John Crace who two years ago wrote an emotional article about how important it is to be sensitive to those who had been bereaved. In capital letters, Crace wrote: “FIND WORDS TO HELP”. Maybe he should take his own advice…
