The Sun
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Editor David Dinsmore
Circulation 1,978,324 * Address 1 London Bridge St, London SE1 9GF Website www.thesun.co.uk Phone 020 7782 4000 *October 2014 |
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Andrew Mitchell loses Plebgate libel case
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Thursday 27 November
The former Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell faces a legal bill that is expected to run into millions after losing his libel action against the Sun over the "plebs" story that halted his political career. Mitchell's barrister had told the High Court that a web of lies, deceit and indiscipline by police officers had led to a vitriolic press campaign after a confrontation in Downing Street in 2012 in which he was accused of calling police "f****** plebs". Mitchell accepted that he had a temper and used foul language but said that the word "plebs" was not in his vocabulary. But Mr Justice Midding threw out the case at the Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon, saying: "I’m satisfied, at least on the balance of probabilities that Mr Mitchell did speak the words attributed to him, or so close to them as to amount to the same, the politically toxic word pleb.” The judge added that he believed PC Toby Rowland, the Diplomatic Protection Group officer who had accused the MP of using the word. Rowland - who had counter-sued Mitchell - was a rather old-fashioned officer well-suited to his job, the judge said. “He is not the sort of man who had the wit, the imagination or the inclination to invent in the spur of the moment what a senior cabinet minister would have said to him." The judge that he was satisfied that Mitchell had lost his temper. His behaviour had been childish and his version of events was inconsistent with |
CCTV footage of the Downing Street endounter. Mitchell had sued over what he described as a grossly offensive front page. The Sun argued that its report, based on Rowland's account, had been substantially true.
The judge gave the two sides two weeks to decide what they wanted to do next. In the meantime, Mitchell has been ordered to pay £300,000 costs into court by January 3. Further costs are to be discussed, but some estimates put the cost of the eight-day trial at about £3m. |
It's the silly season and a marker has been put down. Watch out for a rash of stories about mysterious symbols suddenly appearing on kids' bodies.
Think crop circles, think the Virgin Mary turning up on a cheese toastie - harmless nonsense (not that farmers would agree). But if children start branding themselves with anything other than a marker pen, someone is going to get hurt.
- The Sun's dangerous bit of devilment
- Russell Brand has been awarded damages against the Sun after it accused him of cheating on his girlfriend Jemima Khan. The paper's Sunday edition ran a splash and inside spread based on allegations of a model.Brand sued for libel when the Sun refused to publish a correction or take the offending story down from its website. In court the paper's lawyer said it accepted the allegations were false and should never have been published.
Re-apply here: Sun revamp brings fear of jobs cut
Sun staff are expecting to have to reapply for their jobs as part of a reorganisation at the paper in preparation for its move to London Bridge. Titles and responsibilities are reportedly being redefined as "content" and "publishing" and re-advertised. The move is seen as a way of reducing numbers and Mike Dunn, the Sun's head of sport, is the first to go after 29 years at Wapping. Read more from SJA here
Sun staff are expecting to have to reapply for their jobs as part of a reorganisation at the paper in preparation for its move to London Bridge. Titles and responsibilities are reportedly being redefined as "content" and "publishing" and re-advertised. The move is seen as a way of reducing numbers and Mike Dunn, the Sun's head of sport, is the first to go after 29 years at Wapping. Read more from SJA here
Page 3 v breast cancer We all know that the Sun is synonymous with boobs, so it may seem natural for it to become involved in a breast cancer campaign - especially one with a name like CoppaFeel! We do need to encourage women to check themselves regularly, but with so many people trying to call a halt to Page 3, it makes you wonder whether this campaign is about saving lives or about saving page 3
Appointments
May 2014
Martha Mills has been appointed Senior Social Co-Ordinator at The Sun
April 2014
Sarah Douglas has been appointed Social Media Manager at The Sun.
Deaglán de Bréadún has been appointed Political Editor at The Irish Sun. Deaglán was previously a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times and is the author of the book The Far Side of Revenge: Making Peace in Northern Ireland.
February, 2014
George Berridge has been appointed as Social Media Manager from next month. He is currently an intern at the Daily Telegraph
James Manning is now Social Editor at The Sun. Previously Social Media Content Editor at The Daily Telegraph
Martha Mills has been appointed Senior Social Co-Ordinator at The Sun
April 2014
Sarah Douglas has been appointed Social Media Manager at The Sun.
Deaglán de Bréadún has been appointed Political Editor at The Irish Sun. Deaglán was previously a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times and is the author of the book The Far Side of Revenge: Making Peace in Northern Ireland.
February, 2014
George Berridge has been appointed as Social Media Manager from next month. He is currently an intern at the Daily Telegraph
James Manning is now Social Editor at The Sun. Previously Social Media Content Editor at The Daily Telegraph
