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England and Wales decisions
Decisions matching the current search
Preliminary defamation issues in a libel claim over Essex Police statements, an LBC interview, and an article about an investigation into Allison Pearson.
Belafonte v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2026] EWHC 273 (KB) (11 February 2026)
The court determined the single meaning of a Sun article about Stephen Belafonte, finding allegations of harassment in the US and grounds to suspect harassment in the UK.
Bruce & Anor v High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd [2026] EWHC 134 (KB) (27 January 2026)
Preliminary issues in a libel claim over a BBC Panorama programme about HS2. The court held the claimants were portrayed as whistleblowers, not defamed.
The High Court held that a Panorama broadcast about HS2 did not defame the two former HS2 employees interviewed in it.
Paisley v Linehan [2025] EWHC 228 (KB) (05 February 2025)
The High Court determined preliminary libel issues about online comments on Substack, holding that three complained-of publications carried defamatory meanings.
The claimants failed to prove, on the balance of probabilities, that the publications complained of caused or were likely to cause serious harm to their reputations as required by section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013. The evidence did not establish a causal link between the defendant's publications and any serious reputational harm, given the context, lack of evidence from publishees, and alternative explanations. The defendant's counterclaim for harassment also failed, as the claimants' conduct, while regrettable and at times oppressive, did not reach the threshold of gravity required to sus…
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The article, in its natural and ordinary meaning, alleges as fact that the claimant, as chair of an academy trust running three schools, allowed an ultra-conservative Islamic viewpoint to influence education and enabled a culture of poor governance (including lack of child protection safeguards), extremist views, flourishing homophobia and misogyny, and intolerance of diversity. When challenged, the claimant alleged findings were exaggerated and driven by Islamophobia, but this was unfounded and dismissed as conspiracy thinking by the courts. All statements are of fact, not opinion, and are d…
Source excerpt
The single natural and ordinary meaning of each article is that since being introduced to her by her father when she was thirteen and he was an adult, the Claimant groomed Tatiana Spottiswoode with sexual intent, pursued her with inducements and threats, culminating in a brief sexual relationship when they were adults, which on his side was abusive and violent, and which she quickly terminated. This is a factual imputation at Chase level 1 and is plainly defamatory of the Claimant at common law.
Source excerpt
The High Court held that an OCCRP article about Dr Ashti Hawrami was not protected by qualified privilege and bore defamatory meanings.
Bridgen v Hancock [2024] EWHC 1603 (KB) (24 June 2024)
On preliminary issues in a libel claim, the court held that part of a tweet was factual, but its main condemnatory language was opinion.
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