In support of Alex Hilton, Dave Osler and John Gray: Blog libel action no 94
Another day, another libel action on the blogosphere. I seem to spend more time on these than anything else, so … here we go.
The bloggers Alex Hilton (who runs Labour Home and has made a comment) and Dave Osler are being sued following postings on their websites about Johanna Kaschke, who is now a Conservative Party member.
Dave also reports that legal action is also being taken against Trade Unionist John Gray, who writes John’s Labour Blog, and that an action against the Labour Party has failed. There may potentially be an action against Thomas Cobleigh from Devon, but I have not yet seen his article.
Dave Osler comments:
Being a journalist, I have had sufficient professional training to put forward a defence of justification and/or fair comment, and I furthermore contend that the doctrine of ‘bane and antidote’ applies, in that her side of the story was properly set out. I admit to breach of copyright in using a photograph from her website, and will shortly make an offer of settlement, based on National Union of Journalists rates for photographers.
And this in a comment on Socialist Unity:
I can also tell you that one of the things she is complaining about in her statement of claim against me is a comment you left on my blog.
“I’m a candidate, can I have three minutes to get a picture?â€
Gossip time.
Enemy Infiltration. Demon Eyes.
Corker.
Presumably David Cameron will now have heard of A Hilton Esq for perhaps the first time.
Political Hairdo Lotto
In DC’s defence, slightly bouffant hairdos of short-people at eye-level can make candidates eminently forgettable. For example, the selection below the fold.
