Mark Douglas quit his £121,000-a-year job as Director of Children’s Services in Bradford Council just days before Frankie Smith and Savannah Brockhill went on trial for Star Hobson’s murder. IPSO has sent out this notice to newspapers warning them not to breach his privacy:
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL; NOT FOR PUBLICATION
IPSO has today been contacted by Mark Douglas (see below). Editors may be aware that Mr Douglas was previously Director of Children’s Social Care for Bradford Council.Mr Douglas is concerned about the presence of the press and photographers in the vicinity of his home and parents’ house, and wishes to make clear that he and his family do not wish to be approached for comment, or photographed in the vicinity of their homes. He also requests that the press leave the area around their homes. Mr Douglas wishes to make clear that he will not be commenting on the story, and that all requests for comment should be directed to the Communications team at Bradford Council: Press.Communications@bradford.gov.uk
We are happy to pass on this request and note the terms of Clause 2 (Privacy) and Clause 3 (Harassment) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.
Privacy is very important to Mark Douglas. Protecting the little girl who died despite desperate attempts to alert social services when he was in charge – less important. Two weeks ago the Solihull social services director tried a similar move after the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case. Failed public servants should not be able to hide from scrutiny behind bogus right-to-privacy claims…
Despite repeatedly attempting to call the Prime Minister ‘Britain’s Trump’, Corbyn emerged from his ‘Press Conference’ (campaign rally) today looking more like the US President than anyone. After applauding his own speech, the conference descended into what could generously be described as an anti-media pile on, with Corbyn’s baying followers preventing any criticism of their eternal leader by shouting down the press for daring to challenge one of the most senior politicians in the country. He’s following the Trump playbook to a tee…
In response to one woman’s anti-journalist rant, Corbyn half-heartedly said he supports the press, yet will nevertheless introduce dystopian-sounding “media reforms”. Change is coming…
Inspired by today’s speech? Why not play another game of Who said it? Corbyn or Trump…
This is the roll call of wrong ‘uns who tried to implement Leveson 2. Fortunately for the freedom of the press, they failed by nine votes.
Abbott, rh Ms Diane
Alexander, Heidi
Ali, Rushanara
Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena
Amesbury, Mike
Antoniazzi, Tonia
Ashworth, Jonathan
Austin, Ian
Bailey, Mr Adrian
Bardell, Hannah
Barron, rh Sir Kevin
Beckett, rh Margaret
Benn, rh Hilary
Berger, Luciana
Betts, Mr Clive
Black, Mhairi
Blackford, rh Ian
Where are you moving to, John?
MPs have voted against Ed Miliband’s Leveson 2 amendment by a majority of nine. And…
I understand Labour will not be pushing the section 40 amendment to the Data Protection Bill to a vote, meaning newspapers will not be liable for legal costs in libel actions they win. Big victory for investigative journalism.
— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) May 9, 2018
Labour have just confirmed to Guido that the Watson amendment will not go to a vote. They didn’t have the numbers and have bottled it. Victory for the free press.
Ed Miliband, Tom Watson, Max Mosley, Impress, Hugh Grant, John Cleese, Brian Leveson, Gary Lineker, Steve Coogan, Evan Harris… your boys took one hell of a beating (well, just)…
Tom Watson’s Trump-style Section 40 amendment to the Data Protection Bill would force publishers to pay both sides’ legal costs even if they win a dispute – a reform that will potentially bankrupt media companies. It means all sorts of wrong ‘uns could bring legal challenges to newspapers, with the papers having to pay whatever the outcome. Watson would have seen the Sunday Times pay crime boss David Hunt’s legal bills. He would have put the Telegraph on the hook for MPs suing over the expenses scandal. The BBC and the Guardian would have had to pay the law firm Appleby over the Paradise Papers revelations. It means the Rotherham child abuse scandal, Fifa files and Lance Armstrong’s doping might never have been published. What do MPs voting for Watson’s amendment have to hide?
