24 h. ago The Noel Clarke judgment was a victory for the freedom of the press – but it should also act as a warning | Nik Williams

Embedded within Clarke’s legal action was a new threat to public interest reporting, despite his emphatic defeatNik Williams is a policy and campaigns officer at Index on CensorshipThe high court’s ruling in favour of the Guardian struck a powerful blow for the free press and for holding those accused of sexual misconduct to account. While across the globe, we have seen the courtroom as the venue of choice to push back against the legacy of the #MeToo movement, this victory sent a clear signal that the voices of those affected have lost none of their power, impact or poignancy.Noel Clarke is an actor, screenwriter, producer and director who is best known for the Hood trilogy, as well as acting in Doctor Who. In 2022, he sued the Guardian for its reporting based on the testimony of 20 women who accused him of “sexual harassment, unwanted touching or groping, sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments on set, professional misconduct, taking and sharing sexually explicit pictures an...

Events

26 h. ago Israel used to lie about killing journalists; now it barely bothers to do so. What happened? | Meron Rapoport

The ‘most moral army in the world’ has killed at least 248 journalists in Gaza, seemingly without any shameMeron Rapoport is an Israeli journalist for +972 magazine and Local CallIn September 2022, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published the results of an internal investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin four months earlier. “There is a high possibility that Ms Abu Akleh was accidentally hit by IDF gunfire that was fired toward suspects identified as armed Palestinian gunmen,” read the summary of the investigation. The IDF expressed “its deep condolences” over her death. “The freedom of the press and maintaining the safety of journalists are part of the primary components of Israeli democracy, which the IDF is committed to upholding,” it added.This statement had little to do with the facts. Not only did numerous independent investigations indicate that Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli soldiers (a claim which the Israeli army initially denie...

Events

4 d. ago Authoritative to authoritarian: rightwing radicalisation is blurring the Conservatives’ political red lines | Andy Beckett

Listen to the inflammatory language around immigration, multiculturalism, press freedom – that old notion of British ‘moderation’ has gone for everSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreWhile British rightwing politics has never been exactly a gentle pursuit, there is a longstanding assumption that its tone and content have limits. Enoch Powell’s “rivers of blood” speech, Oswald Mosley’s embrace of fascism, Keith Joseph’s 1974 speech apparently in favour of eugenics: each of these transgressions was punished and became infamous.According to believers in this country’s political moderation, the mainstream British right does not make overt appeals to prejudice, encourage political violence, form alliances with the far right, or advocate authoritarianism here or abroad. Unlike in other democracies, such as interwar Germany, our conservatism has always had red ...

Politics

2 w. ago Women’s groups hail Noel Clarke libel defeat as victory for victims and press freedom

Campaigners say judgment shows powerful men cannot hide behind money and libel laws to silence accusersWomen’s groups have said a high court judgment dismissing a libel claim against the Guardian by actor Noel Clarke marks a victory not just for his victims, but for press freedom and public interest reporting as a whole.They said too often “wealthy and abusive men” have been able to use the courts to try to silence victims, hiding “behind injunctions, NDAs, [and] threats of defamation suits”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Charities welcome libel defeat for BBC star Noel Clarke in £70m sexual misconduct case

Women's charities have welcomed a high court judgement dismissing a £70 million libel claim against the Guardian by Doctor Who actor Noel Clarke.

Economics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Noel Clarke: accountability came from journalism, not a complicit industry | Editorial

This newspaper’s victory in court underlines the courage of the women who spoke up and how in TV power shielded abuseThe high court’s dismissal of the actor Noel Clarke’s case against the Guardian is about more than one actor’s failed libel claim. Mrs Justice Steyn’s judgment is about power and complicity as well as the failure to protect vulnerable people. In her verdict, she agreed with the Guardian that there were “strong grounds to believe that [Clarke] is a serial abuser of women”.The court heard testimony from 26 witnesses before concluding that Clarke had engaged in harassment, bullying and abuse of power over many years. The judge accepted some of his evidence, but found him to be neither credible or reliable. The Guardian’s journalists, by contrast, were meticulous and gave Clarke reasonable opportunity to respond as well as fairly presenting his denials. Without women speaking up, Clarke would never have been exposed. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The Noel Clarke judgment is a victory for the brave women who told us their stories – and for journalism | Katharine Viner

The high court has found in favour of the Guardian after the British actor and filmmaker sued for libel over allegations of sexual misconductKatharine Viner is editor-in-chief of the Guardian Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke loses his libel case against the Guardian – Today in Focus Extra

Investigations editor Paul Lewis talks through the Guardian’s successful defence against a libel action brought by the actorOn Friday morning, a high court judge ruled against the actor Noel Clarke in his libel case against the Guardian.As the Guardian’s investigations editor, Paul Lewis, explains, it marks the end of a long and gruelling litigation process. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke conspiracy claims over Guardian reporting ‘implausible’ – judge

The actor took legal action against the newspaper’s publishers over allegations of misconduct.

Events

2 w. ago Noel Clarke loses libel case as judge backs Guardian over harassment claims

The actor unsuccessfully sued the Guardian newspaper’s publisher at the High Court in London.

Events

2 w. ago Noel Clarke 'disappointed' as he speaks out on losing libel case against the Guardian

Doctor Who and Kidulthood star Noel Clarke has addressed losing his libel case against the Guardian over a series of articles as he branded it 'disappointing'

Politics

2 w. ago From Noel Clarke to Gregg Wallace, why is the UK still battling a toxic TV culture?

Power imbalances and precarious employment for production staff mean whistleblowing remains a raritySupport lines. Slogans. Culture reviews. Even a new standards body. The pipeline of toxic behaviour haunting Britain’s television industry in recent years has led to numerous attempts to end the grim assumption among its workers that little can be done to challenge the inappropriate actions of powerful figures.Recent initiatives have shown signs of reducing bad behaviour. However, in an industry that still talks about “above the line” talent – referring to the leading creative figures and cast in a show – many working in the production world fear it still suffers from a power imbalance that fosters unacceptable treatment and deters whistleblowing. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago What were the claims against Noel Clarke that led him to take legal action?

Allegations against Clarke included claims of inappropriate comments and groping.

Politics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke's career in tatters as he LOSES £70m libel case over women alleging sexual misconduct after his claims were branded a 'desperate conspiracy'

Former Dr Who star Noel Clarke has lost his libel claim agaiinst the Guardian newspaper, amid claims of sexual misconduct against a string of women.

Economics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke loses 'sexual predator' High Court libel battle against The Guardian

Noel Clarke complained that his career had been wrecked by The Guardian’s reports

Events

2 w. ago Noel Clarke loses libel claim against Guardian newspaper publisher

The Doctor Who actor sued the newspaper’s publisher over multiple articles.

Politics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke loses libel case against Guardian over sexual misconduct investigation

High court rejects actor’s claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracyThe Guardian has successfully defended a libel action brought by the actor Noel Clarke over an investigation by the newspaper in which he was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women.In a high court judgment handed down on Friday, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke’s claim. He had said the allegations set out in the Guardian’s investigation were false and that he had been the victim of an unlawful conspiracy.There were strong grounds to believe that over 15 years, he used his power to prey on and harass female colleagues.He sometimes bullied female colleagues.He engaged in unwanted sexual contact, kissing, touching or groping.He engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments.He was involved in professional misconduct.He took and shared explicit pictures and videos without consent, including secretly filming a young actor’s naked audition. Continue...

Economics

2 w. ago What is Noel Clarke’s libel claim against The Guardian’s publisher about?

The Doctor Who actor will discover whether his libel claim against Guardian News and Media has been successful on Friday.

Politics

2 w. ago Noel Clarke set to learn outcome of libel claim against Guardian publisher

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media over several articles containing allegations of misconduct.

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: Britain’s shameful inaction on Jimmy Lai could cost him his life

In deteriorating health in a Hong Kong jail, the businessman’s detention is now a test of Keir Starmer’s seriousness about human rights – and the government’s willingness to defend its citizens and values abroad, says Jodie Ginsberg

Politics