Crow v Johnson

Crow v Johnson

The words in the leaflet are not capable of being defamatory of Mr Crow within the context of political speech during an election; they fall within the latitude permitted by law and do not lower Mr Crow in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally.

Parties
Claimant: Robert Crow; Defendant: Boris Johnson
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 July 2012
Procedural Posture
Civil Defamation (libel) / Application to Strike Out Claim and for Permission to Amend Claim
Outcome
Claim struck out
Legal Topics
Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Freedom of Expression in Political Context, Threshold for Striking Out Defamation Claims
Defamation Media Law Election Law Meaning of Defamatory Statements Freedom of Expression in Political Context Threshold for Striking Out Defamation Claims

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Parties

Robert Crow

Claimant

Boris Johnson

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Defamation (libel) / Application to Strike Out Claim and for Permission to Amend Claim

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the words complained of are capable of bearing a defamatory meaning against the claimant
  2. 2 Whether the words are capable of being understood as referring to the claimant
  3. 3 Whether the context of political speech during an election affords a wider latitude for criticism

Ratio Decidendi

The words in the leaflet are not capable of being defamatory of Mr Crow within the context of political speech during an election; they fall within the latitude permitted by law and do not lower Mr Crow in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally.

Court Disposition

Claim struck out

Orders

  • The action is struck out.