The Windsors are not the only ones with some kind of mutually beneficial “deal” with the British media, specifically the British tabloids. British tabloids can make or break a British politician, and let’s just say it’s not surprising that the British media and the most powerful British politicians tend to be pro-Brexit, anti-immigrant, pro-monarchy and anti-diversity. The British media gets what it pays for and vice versa. Boris Johnson is the embodiment of this – BoJo has a lengthy history of racism, philandering and undemocratic politics, all of which was white-washed by the media. Downing Street, Kensington Palace and the British tabloids are all interconnected by shared philosophies, shared hatred, shared staff and shared goals. So it’s not shocking that Downing Street made a statement about the Mail losing their appeal of the Duchess of Sussex’s successful summary judgment.
Downing Street today insisted that a free Press is ‘one of the cornerstones of any democracy’, one day after the Mail on Sunday lost an appeal in a privacy row with the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), also the publisher of MailOnline, over five articles which reproduced parts of a ‘personal and private’ letter to her 77-year-old father Thomas Markle in August 2018. The 40-year-old duchess won her case earlier this year when a High Court judge ruled in her favour without a full trial. ANL brought an appeal against that decision and, at a three-day hearing in November, argued the case should go to a trial on Meghan’s claims against the publisher – including breach of privacy and copyright.
The appeal was dismissed by Court of Appeal judges on Thursday, but the publisher of the Mail on Sunday said it was considering an appeal to the Supreme Court – and No 10 said it would be examining the judgment ‘carefully’. Friday, a spokesman for Boris Johnson was asked whether he was concerned about the ruling. He said: ‘I think you’ve heard the Prime Minister say before, a free press is one of the cornerstones of any democracy. This Government recognises the vital role that newspapers and the media play in holding people to account and shining a light on issues which matter to communities.’
The spokesman said he could not comment further on legal processes but that Downing Street will ‘study the implications of the judgment carefully’.
All things considered, that wasn’t Downing Street giving a ringing endorsement to the Mail or their case. But it also wasn’t any kind of defense of Meghan or the legitimate and obvious legal issues present in her case. There’s a reason why she won the summary judgment and there’s a reason why the three appeal judges unanimously threw out the Mail’s appeal: it’s a cut-and-dry case of copyright infringement. The Mail is incapable of making a coherent argument for why Meghan politely telling off her toxic father is “holding people to account and shining a light on issues which matter to communities.” Meghan asked her father to stop lying and being so toxic. After he received the letter, he continued to lie about her and abuse her through the press for years. None of which is an issue of “freedom of the press.” My guess is that the Mail – perhaps even Lord Rothermere himself – yanked on BoJo’s very short leash.
Peter Hunt continues to chime in, pointing out that Downing Street’s response to Kate’s privacy issue was a lot different. Of course, that was when David Cameron was PM.
In 2012 – when Kate’s privacy was invaded by the publication of topless photos in a French magazine – the prime minister's official spokesman said: "The view from Downing Street is that they are entitled to their privacy." https://t.co/FuE0aguwgo via @MailOnline
— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) December 3, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Yeah, she won, and yeah, you still have your freedom of the press. The two are not incompatible.
If you want to talk about royals limiting the press, she’s not the one I’d start with.
Methinks they are all taking notes quietly in the back on how to put a muzzle on the tabloids as Meghan did, and keep their private affairs private. The main difference is that the Sussexes never played footsie with the tabloids for exposure, the same cannot be said for the lot of them. The tabloids, the royals, the men in gray, and the tory can bitch and moan all they want, but the Sussexes will remain free and winning.
These comments just confirm that the entire British establishment is against Meghan.
Yes, they were all in cahoots with each other.
That mealy-mouth response is just Boris trying to have his cake and eat it too. He’s not going to do anything.
In a curious twist of timing, Bojo has announced a harsh “war on drugs” around the same time the press has discovered traces of cocaine in the Parliament toilet/ restrooms/ loos. I’m curious as to how much freedom Bojo will want the press to actually have.
Johnson has so many skeletons in his cupboard that he’s utterly beholden to the press barons. This is the man who gave away the information of a journalist whose ribs he wanted to have broken. He is remorseless piece of work.
This won’t get through parliament – it’s just BoJo and his minions making hubris to appease the rabid tabloids who have all their secrets. God forbid we ever find out how many children Boris actually has now or how many NHS contracts a Tory minister gave to his side piece’s brother.
Maybe the should look at banning super injunctions that are being abused by the wealthy to hide their sinds.
I imagine this is (for the most part) to distract from the fact it was revealed that the PM and the cabinet were throwing Christmas parties during a time where nobody else in London was allowed to mix households. I also think that the establishment is upset that a biracial duchess won her lawsuit, not once but twice and all without a trial. So what I’m saying is that there are two things going on here: to distract the public and genuine anger at Meghan.
The Tory government has already been taking steps to fight specific privacy laws. Though it would seem to be against their own interest they know because of their collusion with the tabloids that they will be protected while the tabloids will have more freedom to invade/harass those in opposition to them.
I don’t understand why they would take steps to legislate against a basic human right. The Act states we have this right, and already lists the exceptions, e.g. national threat, threat to the economy etc.
Morally what they are doing is wrong.
The tabloid press portrayed the judiciary as enemies of the state for saying exiting the EU should be debated in Parliament & it was reported this weekend that the government want ability to change court decisions they don’t agree with. Britain is heading to a scary place.
Britain’s press own these politicians & BORIS Johnson was a a journalist so of course he’d support his former colleagues/bosses in their tantrum about breaking the law & being held accountable. This comment says it all
I always knew the silence of ministers to the press attacks even when Meghan was representing Britain abroad was a sign she wasn’t supported by the establishment. It was a real contrast to Kate being defended by the prime minister & labour leader after Hilary Mantel’s comments.
I’m glad you mentioned Lord Rothermere – who Meghan named-checked in her statement – he seems like a shady figure. He likely knows where all of the bodies are buried on Salty Isle and has likely buried a few himself. I hope the US press goes deeper on his game because I’d wager he’s a very dirty dog.
The monarchy, the tories and the British media should just order their three hole white sheets in bulks