Richard Burgon has won his libel case against The Sun for an article which claimed that his heavy metal band used “Nazi imagery”. A “delighted” Burgon has been awarded a healthy £30,000 in damages. Burgon says he will use it to fund a paid justice internship for a young person from Leeds…
The Sun have put out a statement saying they are “deeply disappointed” by the judgement and are planning to appeal:
Journalist Harriet Williamson has a large backlog of tweets slagging off one particular newspaper. In other news Guido would like to congratulate Harriet in her new freelancing role as Digital Features writer for… The Sun!
IPSO has dismissed a complaint about a Trevor Kavanagh opinion column which discussed Muslim grooming gangs in the wake of the Sarah Champion furore. Sorry right-on lefties of Twitter, there was no breach of the Editor’s Code.
A Sun spokesman said:
“This is a welcome reminder that the vitality of newspapers comes from the free exchange of ideas and opinions, perhaps particularly those which some might not like.”
Common sense at last in the week when hard left fronts like Stop Funding Hate are attacking freedom of speech…
Just starting my BBC News Channel shift like… pic.twitter.com/m5XuGFEgqq
— Robert Coxwell (@RobertCoxwell) 16 November 2017
Lights lowered. Speakers off. Pillow plumped. Ready for work.
— Simon McCoy (@BBCSimonMcCoy) 16 November 2017
Some attempts at banter today from BBC staff in response to this morning’s splash. Weaker than the night shift in the BBC Newsroom…
So The Sun showed them how it’s done:
We at @TheSun are here at the BBC dishing out coffees – no hard feelings? Cc: @bbcpress pic.twitter.com/zz5nDpHFiJ
— Andy Silvester (@silvesterldn) 16 November 2017
2-1 to The Sun in the flame war…
First Cabinet minister named by the Sun as Michael Fallon, who admits touching Julia Hartley-Brewer’s knee. He says sorry…
UPDATE: Statement from Julia, who says she is not a victim:
“I have received a number of calls today from newspapers and broadcasters asking me to comment on a claim that I was the victim of sexual harassment by a current Cabinet minister.
I have spoken previously about a Cabinet minister who repeatedly put his hand on my knee during a party conference dinner. I calmly and politely explained to him that, if he did it again, I would “punch him in the face”. He withdrew his hand and that was the end of the matter.
I have had no issues since with the man in question and do not regard the incident as anything but mildly amusing, which is why I have declined to name him. It has also been claimed that the same minister made remarks to me about my breasts. If he did, I certainly don’t recall those comments.
Wild rumours and claims are circulating about many male MPs at Westminster in a media feeding frenzy. I have worked in and around Westminster for 20 years and, as far as I am aware, incidents of genuine harassment involve only a small number of MPs from all parties.
I believe it is absurd and wrong to treat workplace banter and flirting – and even misjudged sexual overtures – between consenting adults as being morally equivalent to serious sexual harassment or assault.
It demeans genuine victims of real offences. Anyone with any allegations against an MP, or anyone else, should speak up now and provide the evidence to ensure any necessary action is taken.
I have not been a victim and I don’t wish to take part in what I believe has now become a Westminster witch hunt.”
Last night Guido went to see Ink at the theatre. Not the usual luvvie whine about Rupert Murdoch and The Sun. Guido paid £80 for his ticket and it was well worth it…
An allegation made against a reporter working for the The Sun, whipped up by the Guardian and left-wing news sites, has turned out to be completely untrue. King’s College Hospital had “formally written” to IPSO to complain about a journalist who was accused of impersonating a friend or relative of a Grenfell victim while seeking an interview in the aftermath of the fire. The Sun strongly denied this at the time, and now the complaint has been withdrawn. A News UK spokesman said:
“They accepted that our reporter did not ‘impersonate relatives’ or ‘friends’. As a result of this the hospital has withdrawn any IPSO complaint.”
Will MediaGuardian, who sent this false allegation viral, ensure their correction is just as prominent?
Ruth Davidson on working with PM Boris…
“I have worked with him when he was Foreign Secretary. I will work with whoever the Prime Minister is. I haven’t had a phone call yet to ask me to run his campaign in Scotland. I am not expecting the call. But I will genuinely judge him on the same criteria as I judge any of the candidates.”
