Margaret Hodge MP: an apology

by **Ivan** Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:53 pm

A couple of months ago, I re-posted on Twitter a comment, supposedly made by Tory MP Douglas Carswell, which, in good faith, I believed to be true. Mr Carswell contacted me and stated very politely that he had not made that remark. On further investigation, I found that it had been made by a Canadian MP called Carswell. Without hesitation, I deleted the tweet and apologised to Mr Carswell both privately and publicly, and he graciously accepted my apologies.

On 10 November 2012, tlttf re-posted on Cutting Edge some allegations about Margaret Hodge MP and a firm called Stemcor. These allegations had first appeared in ‘The Daily Telegraph’ and turned out to be libellous.

On 12 December, ‘The Daily Telegraph’ posted this half-hearted apology in its paper, taking up considerably less space than the libellous article:-

Margaret Hodge MP - Contrary to our report “Hodge faces challenge over family firm’s taxes”, Stemcor, in which Ms Hodge has a small shareholding, has not abused transfer pricing to avoid tax. We accept that there is no inconsistency or hypocrisy in Ms Hodge criticising other companies for tax avoidance and apologise to her for any contrary impression.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/9740964/Margaret-Hodge-MP-apology.html

On three occasions, I have asked tlttf to retract the libel which he posted on this forum:-

Ivan – 17 December:-
When are you going to apologise for the libellous posting you recycled from ‘The Daily Telegraph’ about Margaret Hodge?

Ivan – 26 December:-
While on the subject of apologies, I'm still waiting to read your one to Margaret Hodge MP, after you libelled her on this forum. No doubt you couldn't wait to post what turned out to be a pack of lies about her, yet you seem very reluctant to withdraw your comments, even though your source, 'The Daily Telegraph', has done as much.

Ivan – 5 January:-
I haven't forgotten the last time you rushed to provide us with a story from 'The Daily Telegraph' and it turned out to be libellous. Not so fast in retracting it, were you? Do you intend to post an apology to Margaret Hodge, or do I have to do it on your behalf?

As no apology has been forthcoming from tlttf, I am sending one to Margaret Hodge on behalf of Cutting Edge.

It seems ironic that on 9 November, tlttf issued this warning to another member who had made some non-specific remarks about Tory MPs and who was not therefore committing libel:-

you’re walking a dodgy line there my friend and should be aware of allegations without proof.

On six occasions between 30 October and 25 November, tlttf seriously breached both the law of the land and our house rules on copyright. Now he’s posted a libel and failed to retract it. The future of this forum will not be put at risk by the actions of one person who seems determined to discredit it. Unless or until tlttf posts a public apology, both to Margaret Hodge and to Cutting Edge for bringing this forum into disrepute, ANY postings that he makes containing extracts from other sources will be deleted on sight. Moderators please take note.

by Redflag Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:20 pm

WELL SAID IVAN

by oftenwrong Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:25 pm

It's a real pity that the Cutting Edge Board has not had more luck in attracting right-wing sympathisers with a desire to debate rather than simply indulge in sloganising.

If there are people out there who enjoy the cut and thrust of lively discussion, kindly step forward so that we can all benefit from a leavened argument between equals.

by tlttf Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:27 pm

Under your rules Ivan as I simply used part of a quote and gave the link, there's nothing to apologise for. Next time I speak to Margaret I'll be sure to apologise personally not by some made up rule that applies to very few on these boards.

by tlttf Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:29 pm

Why should right wingers step forward when they are overly moderated OW, you'll never get to hear both side of an argument as Ivan will not allow it.

by **Ivan** Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:54 pm

Under your rules Ivan as I simply used part of a quote and gave the link, there's nothing to apologise for. Next time I speak to Margaret I'll be sure to apologise personally not by some made up rule that applies to very few on these boards.

tlttf. The rules apply to everyone on this forum. To the best of my knowledge, nobody else has posted anything libellous. If they do, they will be asked for a retraction.

This is all about taking responsibility for what you post. When I ‘wronged’ Douglas Carswell, however unintentionally, I withdrew the remark and apologised. He was satisfied and that was the end of the matter. I have no wish to post lies about the Tories, the truth is more than sufficient.

You posted something on this forum about Margaret Hodge which turned out to be libellous. Then you ignored three requests to make amends. If you think you can repeatedly breach both the copyright laws and our house rules, then help to spread a libel without being man enough to apologise, think again. Don’t bother to post any more crap from Conservative Home, the very dubious Guido Fawkes or anyone else; as you won’t take responsibility for what you post, no external sources from you will be permitted on this forum.

by tlttf Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:00 pm

My advise is write to the paper, the link was clearly visible.

I've never posted from Tory home and I once posted from Guido. By all means Ivan print a list of only left wing sources we can use and I'll be sure to leave the forum promptly, saving you a fortune on blood pressure tablets.

by Redflag Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:59 pm

tlttf wrote:My advise is write to the paper, the link was clearly visible.

I've never posted from Tory home and I once posted from Guido. By all means Ivan print a list of only left wing sources we can use and I'll be sure to leave the forum promptly, saving you a fortune on blood pressure tablets.

DO NOT WORRY TLTTF, YOU WILL DEFINITELY NOT BE MISSED.

by **Ivan** Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:24 am

tlttf wrote:-
My advise is write to the paper, the link was clearly visible.

“The paper” – ‘The Daily Telegraph’ – has retracted its libel, albeit half-heartedly, in its own columns. However, “the paper” is not responsible for what was posted on Cutting Edge, you are. Whatever happened to the Tory notion of personal responsibility?

Why should right wingers step forward when they are overly moderated OW, you'll never get to hear both side of an argument as Ivan will not allow it.

Rubbish. I don’t allow serious breaches of copyright, libel, spurious comments designed to derail new topics as soon as they’re posted, or complaints in the middle of threads when we have a personal messaging system, but that’s a long way from denying Tories the right to present reasoned arguments.

As OW has said, we’d love to see an honest justification for this shambles of a government, or maybe a literate articulation of why anyone earning less than £100k a year could possibly think it’s in their interests to vote for disgusting serial liars like Cameron and Duncan Smith, who despise everyone who isn’t rich. Nye Bevan put it succinctly: “How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics.”

It would be very interesting to read a right-winger who could match the quality of the posts with which Shirina and Steve Walker have enhanced this forum. Sadly, as OW has pointed out, we have to put up with sloganising, along with smears, unjustified complaints and childish snide comments.

By all means Ivan print a list of only left wing sources we can use and I'll be sure to leave the forum promptly.

As has already been explained, if you’re not prepared to take responsibility for your messages, and to apologise if you post a libel (even unintentionally), then you’re not welcome to post extracts from any sources here.

This discussion is now closed.

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