Birds of a Teather
Regular readers will remember TB's recent attack on Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather and more specifically her dodgy office expenses. Read up
here
, or watch this
for a recap. Well it seems her lawyers keep strange hours. Late on Sunday night TB was emailed a letter reportedly from Wragge & Co LLP warning him that an Member in the middle of tight, bitter fight to remain in Parliament would be willing to see her entire expenses arrangement dragged through the courts in the middle of a general election campaign. Apparently Ms Teather, who used taxpayers money to directly aid her election campaign, has taken objection to being called a "thief":
"The complaint alleges that Ms Teather claimed expenses incurred in campaigning. As you will also know, that allegation is very strongly denied by Ms Teather. It is disappointing therefore that you have decided the matter yourself, ahead of the outcome of Mr Lyon’s investigation, and have publicly pronounced Ms Teather a thief.Well TB certainly awaits the Lyon report with bated breath. When will people finally realise that threatening legal action to people online can only make things worse? In the mean time by all means feel free to describe Ms Teather as a thief on your own blogs. She can't sue us all.
We have advised Ms Teather that your publication is actionable in defamation, and that the defamation is serious. The outcome of a claim against you will be entirely predictable once Mr Lyon has reported.
We therefore invite you to withdraw your assertions, and require you not to repeat them. Failing such withdrawal, or upon any repetition, we are instructed to advise Ms Teather further on the commencement of proceedings against you."
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9 comments:
The West end musical "Oliver!" routinely changes the actor that plays Fagin. Sarah Teather would be ideal in that role.
"Got to pick a pocket of two.... you've got to pick a pocket or two...."
Wragge & Co.
Regional chumps who are even worse than Steel and Shamash at filing court documents on time.
Surely just turning up in court with a copy of her in the House combined with a receipt to prove she draws pay would prove shoe is a thieving wench. Nobody could describe her efforts as work.
Don't let her intimidate you TB, the public should be taking her to court of those expenses claims!
Agreed re:Wragge & Co. You never see amy pf their alumni playing in the City Legal NFL.
Feel sympathy for us electors in Sarah Teather's Brent constituency, when the choice is between the "squeaky clean" LibDem incumbent, and the principled "friend of Obama" NuLab's Dawn Butler. No hope for the Tories nor (thank goodness) for the extremists. In other words which of these 2 harpies is the lesser of 2 evils?
@Kishmein Tochas: I'd go for the hamster every time - at least she's a source of easy shags. I mean, how many people would lower themselves to suck off Lord Rennard? And just so they can represent a ghetto like Brent?
Bet she doesn't sue on that one. It would be too embarrassing if TB had to start calling up the witnesses in Cowley Street who saw and heard all...
If you wanted to get ahead under Rennard's regime, you had to get a head. She was a smart girl.
"Feel sympathy for us electors in Sarah Teather's Brent constituency, when the choice is between the "squeaky clean" LibDem incumbent, and the principled "friend of Obama" NuLab's Dawn Butler. No hope for the Tories nor (thank goodness) for the extremists. In other words which of these 2 harpies is the lesser of 2 evils?"
Hang them both from a lamppost. Two harpies with one stone. Or rope.
Some advice on your reply. All the usual rubbish about it not being a professional advice.
This is a scare letter. The reason you know it is? In order to bring a defamation claim, the little one would have to take the chance that you could successfully call her a thief. It seems clear there is a at least a significant case for that accusation. Can you imagine the consequences if she should lose? The police would seriously have to consider a prosecution, as it would have been found by a jury that she was, indeed, a thief.
If it does go to trial, you will, of course, wish to make clear that you will contest the claim. Run defences of Reynold's fair reportage privilege and then finally justification, in that order.
Finally, and crucially, pay about £200 into court to settle. If rejects it- which she will if you refuse to offer an apology, which is your right- and she gets less, she will have to pay your costs if the jury give her less than that. And in the current climate, I don't think its likely any jury would give an MP much...