Guido can reveal that following on from the Guardian’s apology, Dan Wootton has now also won an apology plus substantial damages from the Daily Mirror after they reprinted the subsequently discredited Byline Times allegations about him. The official Mirror apology reads:
An article headlined “Met Police launches probe into ‘Dan Wootton sex offences’ allegations” was published on our website on 2 October 2023 and removed later that day following a complaint from Dan Wootton. Last week, the Metropolitan police and Police Scotland said that they had concluded their investigations and are taking no further action. We accept that we were wrong to have published the article and apologise unreservedly to Mr Wootton for any upset the article may have caused. Mr Wootton has restated that the police inquiries have exonerated him of any criminal wrongdoing.
Mirror Group Newspapers are also paying substantial five-figure damages to Wootton. This means the country’s two biggest left-wing newspapers have apologised for following up the shoddy reporting of Byline Times. Byline Times are currently busy taking on JK Rowling and have yet to concede to Dan. Either Dan or JK could likely bankrupt the rag…
It’s a difficult end to the week for Piers. After being sacked from TalkTV, his overseeing of phone-hacking past continues to haunt him. The Mirror Group Newspapers v Prince Harry hacking case has been settled, and MGN has accepted that they will pay the Duke of Sussex £400,000 in damages. Prince Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne, read a statement on Harry’s behalf hitting out at Piers Morgan and his role “who as editor, knew perfectly well what was going on, as the judge held”, pointing to Piers’ “contempt for the court’s ruling and his continued attacks” demonstrating the importance of clear and detailed judgement. He goes on:
Sherborne calls for Piers’ prosecution, and that “no one is above the law“. He warned that the “mission” over how the press operate isn’t over. Prosecuting Piers would boost his ratings…
Despite the best efforts of anti-Boris snowflakes – and the Mirror who covered their complaints – Ofcom have cleared Nadine Dorries of any impartiality breaches. Over 40 complaints were lodged against Nadine’s TalkTV show with Boris in February, however the broadcasting regulator found “It did not, therefore, raise issues which warranted investigation under the Broadcasting Code”. Case closed.
Ofcom concluded that, due to critical interventions from panellists including Charlotte Ivers and ex-Labour adviser Scarlett MccGwire, due impartiality was followed. They also found that as the programme was a current affairs – rather than news – show, no issues were raised by Nadine’s presenting gig. The quango surmised their judgement as follows:
“We received 40 complaints that a programme presented by a serving Conservative MP and featuring an interview with former Prime Minister and currently serving Conservative MP, Boris Johnson, was not duly impartial. We concluded that the programme: was a non-news programme and therefore could be presented by a politician; and adequately reflected alternative viewpoints and provided sufficient context.
It did not, therefore, raise issues which warranted investigation under the Broadcasting Code.”
Guido has some sympathy for the complainants, years of Channel 4 News lefties interviewing lefties used to wind him up too.
Kwasi Kwarteng has been pictured on front pages a lot this week what with a mini-maxi-budget and Rupa Huq dissing him, so you would think the Mirror’s picture desk would have little trouble recognising him, right? Kwasi had to put them right with a tweet...
Guido’s not sure who they illustrated the story with, it has however now been amended:
Kwasi’s the first black chancellor in British history, so not a great start for Black History Month at the Mirror…
UPDATE: Told it is Bernard Mensah, Bank of America Chief Executive Officer
Reach PLC hacks have voted to strike this month following a “meagre” 3% pay rise offer. Express, Mirror and Star journalists, as well as those from countless local news outlets, will walk out on Friday 26 August, Wednesday 31 August, and 48 hours from September 14th to 15th. They will also work only contracted hours from 1 to 13 September…
Reach offered staff a pay rise of either 3% or £750 minimum, which the National Union of Journalists said wasn’t enough, especially after last year’s 1% increase. A total of 79% of members voted for the strike action on a 70% turnout.
Ironically the NUJ’s local chapel representatives rejected the 3% pay offer by a ratio of four to one shortly after The Mirror published a front-page splash about chief executives earning up to 86 times their average workers’ salaries while trying to suppress staff wages.
Reach’s chief executive, Jim Mullen, earns £4 million, which according to the Press Gazette works out to 104 times as much as his median employee. Will millionaire socialist Kevin Maguire, on a six-figure salary – be joining the picket line? Guido has a feeling this is one strike the Government will be delighted to see…
Well, he wasn’t on Guido’s runners and riders list. Daily Mail deputy political editor John Stevens has announced he’s the new Mirror political editor, replacing Pippa Crerar who is shortly to depart for The Guardian. He starts this Autumn.
Some news...
— John Stevens (@johnestevens) July 13, 2022
I'm thrilled to announce I've been appointed Political Editor of the Daily Mirror, following in the footsteps of the legend @PippaCrerar
I cannot wait to join the Mirror's brilliant Westminster team this autumn, working with @MirrorAlison and @JBeattieMirror
Congratulations John, though Guido might give doing a Mail deputy pol ed runners and riders a miss…
