Ware v Paddy French [2021] EWHC 384 (QB) (24 February 2021)

Ware v Paddy French [2021] EWHC 384 (QB) (24 February 2021)

The Article conveys as a matter of fact that Mr Ware is a rogue journalist who engaged in dirty tricks aimed at harming the Labour Party's election chances by authoring and presenting a Panorama programme that knowingly presented a biased and false account of anti-Semitism in the party, deliberately ignoring...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] EWHC 384 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: John Ware; Defendant: Paddy French
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
24 February 2021
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim / Trial of Preliminary Issues
Outcome
Preliminary issues determined in favour of the Claimant's pleaded meaning, with minor modification by the court.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Fact Vs Opinion, Defamatory Tendency, Political Journalism
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Defamatory Statements Fact Vs Opinion Defamatory Tendency Political Journalism

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

John Ware

Claimant

Paddy French

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim / Trial of Preliminary Issues

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the Article?
  2. 2 Does the Article's meaning constitute statements of fact and/or opinion?
  3. 3 Is the meaning as determined defamatory at common law?

Ratio Decidendi

The Article conveys as a matter of fact that Mr Ware is a rogue journalist who engaged in dirty tricks aimed at harming the Labour Party's election chances by authoring and presenting a Panorama programme that knowingly presented a biased and false account of anti-Semitism in the party, deliberately ignoring contrary evidence. These are statements of fact, not opinion, and are defamatory at common law.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issues determined in favour of the Claimant's pleaded meaning, with minor modification by the court.

Orders

  • The meaning of the Article is as set out by the court, substantially as pleaded by the Claimant.
  • The Article's meaning is a statement of fact, not opinion.