9 d. 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week ago Noel Clarke loses libel claim against Guardian newspaper publisher

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

Politics

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

2 w. ago Israel is wiping out Gaza’s journalists – and it’s no longer even hiding it | Jodi Ginsberg

The laws of war are clear: journalists are civilians. To target them deliberately in war is to commit a war crimeIsrael always boasted that it was the only country in the region to support press freedom. That boast rang hollow even before the current war. Now, it’s not even pretending. On Sunday, Israel openly and brazenly killed six journalists as they were sheltering in a tent that housed reporters and media workers.Israel accuses one of those journalists – Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif – of being a terrorist. It has not said what crime it believes the others have committed that would justify killing them. The laws of war are clear: journalists are civilians. To target them deliberately in war is to commit a war crime. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Mourners gather amid outrage over Israeli troops’ killing of journalists in Gaza – live updates

UN condemns killing of Anas al-Sharif and colleagues, calling it a ‘grave breach of international humanitarian law’Anas al-Sharif among five journalists killed in Israeli airstrikeReporters Without Borders has condemned the “acknowledged murder by the Israeli army” of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, who the armed forces admitted they had targeted, along with several of his colleagues.The press freedom campaign group told news agency AFP it “strongly and angrily condemns the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army” of al-Sharif and other journalists. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Voices: Malaysia must stop saying one thing and doing another

Promises in Anwar Ibrahim’s manifesto to repeal draconian legislation around media freedoms appear to be missing from the prime minister’s government, writes John Whittingdale

Politics