Friday, November 14, 2008

Billionaire Threatens New Statesman

Looks like the New Statesman is involved in a 'damned if we publish and damned if we apologise' dispute with the billionaire Nadhmi Auchi. Index on Censorship reports that the NS has taken down a blog article by its political editor Martin Bright having been threatened with legal action by Auchi's lawyers.
The controversial businessman raised objections to links in the article to material hosted by Internet whistleblower site Wikileaks, as well as to statements made by Bright in his blog post. As well as requesting the removal of the blog, Auchi’s solicitors Carter Ruck are demanding an apology in open court and damages.
But the plot thickens...
Wikileaks editor Julian Assange has now claimed that the New Statesman, in agreeing to Auchi’s terms, would defame him and Wikileaks by implying that the site’s content was inaccurate. In a letter to the New Statesman, Assange warned ‘Our organisation’s reputation for professional, accurate investigative journalism is our primary asset. As both the New Statesman and Wikileaks are globally read publications, we will consider taking action against the New Statesman in the most suitable jurisdiction or jurisdictions.’ Assange said the New Statesman should not be party to what he terms Auchi’s ‘mischief’, pointing out that Wikileaks had never been approached by Auchi or its lawyers about the material it hosted.

The NS is in a very tricky position and one I do not envy. There is a growing feeling that the libel laws are being used to close down discussion of some very rich or unpleasant people. Readers will recall the case of the Uzbekh billionaire who bought into Arsenal who threatened bloggers last year.

I understand the Auchi/New Statesman issue is going to be brought up in Parliament by way of an adjournment debate. Michael Gove, Denis MacShane and Norman Lamb are behind the initiative.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you hear Any questions tonight Iain? The minister was accusing the baby P whistleblower of asking the wrong kind of questions. And that is why she failed to respond in an appropriate manner.

Next time you write to your MP make sure your letter is of the right kind so that your MP will actually read your letter.

For goodness sake the minister received a letter, written by a lawyer, on behalf of a professional social worker, warning the minister that a council with previous form was putting its children in harms way.

Why the F++k is this the wrong kind of letter that an MP (government minister) should not be bothered to read?

Newmania said...

The state of libel laws and defamation is such as to preclude discussion of almost everything by anyone Iain . Perhaps you flowed the astonishing TESCO Guardian and private Eye case in which TESCO are claiming that they were libelled not because the details on their tax avoidance scams were false but because it was an attack on the reputation they had ( not the one they deserved to have ) and unbelievably this seems to have been allowed .
If you print Publicly available information even if it on the front page of a Newspaper and send it to someone by way of effecting a commercial decision you risk going to court and by these means , virtually criminal companies carry on their trade. I know this to my cost

What a mess

Wrinkled Weasel said...

Does Geoffrey Robinson still own the New Statesman? (I am so out of the loop)If he is, I think this Iraqi bloke may have some discomfort in store, with the odd question raised by a newly enobled pal not to say a few well placed briefings from the old Maxwell Cabal - He who pays the piper...

Anonymous said...

Anon @9:45 "The minister was accusing the baby P whistleblower of asking the wrong kind of questions. And that is why she failed to respond in an appropriate manner."
- and in earlier news today -
"Downing Street insisted that "correct procedures" had been followed."

You just don't have a chance, do you? Come on, get out the lot of you and follow me to South America. Corruption fine, disgusting cant/hypocrisy no way.

Anonymous said...

I agree, if Rosie Winterton had spent less time, er, with Prescott and more time doing some work for Prescott then things might have been rather different..

John Redwood made the good point that 'some of us actually read our letters'..

This Auchi guy sounds like an, er, interesting fellow - and he lives in London.

Notice how quickly the New Labour government parcelled the 'NatWest3' off to the States..

Hmm... The Plot Thickens...

Anonymous said...

Also interesting to see the name of Keith Vaz kicking about - another guy who needs to be turfed out of politics, although he is the first guy to wave the 'racism' card when it suits him to avoid answering any 'searching questions'...

Anonymous said...

Looks like Lord Kalms is gunning for George!

Lord Kalms, a former party Treasurer and the founder of the Dixons retail empire, has given voice to the discontent felt by many disgruntled backbench MPs and influential Tory figures who have privately called on David Cameron to dismiss his close ally following a sharp fall in the party's opinion poll ratings.

Lord Kalms told The Daily Telegraph: "You need someone who relates absolutely to working people who is heavyweight. I think George is a first-class man but I'd like to see a bit more grey hair on the front bench.

"David Davis [the former shadow Home Secretary] would be absolutely the right man at this time as shadow Chancellor. I am informing everyone who will listen that change needs to happen."

But then you agree really don't you Iain?

Jabba the Cat said...

@ Anonymous 11:19 PM


" Looks like Lord Kalms is gunning for George!"


Wtf has this to do with the thread topic?

Apropos the original thread topic, Jabba thinks that this is a portend of things to come in the UK and the EU as the socialists in the EU do not like criticism or scrutiny and will find common cause with the rich and corrupt to try and stifle all such comment and exposure of nefarious activities.

The reason that Wikileaks is not a target is because being US based are afforded first amendment constitutional free speech protection. Sadly we do not have such protection nor a supreme court to uphold such rights.

Anonymous said...

George Monbiot wrote a good article about a similar thing happening to a group of SWFC supporters who were pursued through the courts because of allegedly libeling the former chairman of the club on a message board.

Newmania said...

Does Geoffrey Robinson still own the New Statesman?

NMo he does not and if he jad then Martin Bright would have been fired for printing anti Brown stuff

Anonymous said...

To coin a John McCain phrase "Let's make this guy famous !"

These guys get away with this sort of stuff because they can 'operate in the dark' or get their henchmen to do their work for them. But not if we plaster his name around a bit.

Anonymous said...

And of course this goverment tried to control all content of the newspapers prior to the election, and now hardly ever tell the TRUTH.

Anonymous said...

Newmania, he still owns 50% and is (for the time being) still in the driving seat. Soon it will be handed over to Danson, but as far as I can tell he's fairly pro-Brown as well.

Anonymous said...

Bring back David Davis !!!

Pogo said...

Whenever I hear about a wealthy and (allegedly) dubious businessman heading Carter-Ruckwards I am put in mind of the late Robert Maxwell, one of the 20th Century's finest users of the "libel cudgell".

Anonymous said...

@ Jabba the Cat:

Apparently WikiLeaks is hosted in Sweden, so it's not obvious we should blame the EU for anything, here.