View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
March 30, 2009

Judge rejects Nigel Griffiths injunction bid against NoW

By Owen Amos

A high court judge has upheld the News of the World‘s right to expose a married MP who had an affair in his House of Commons office.

Last week, the News International tabloid reported Nigel Griffiths filmed himself, with his mistress, in his office on Remembrance Day.

On Saturday, Griffiths tried to obtain an injunction to stop the paper printing more revelations – but the judge ruled against him.

Mr Justice King said: “I accept there is a legitimate interest of the public in the way MPs use access to offices that they get as a result of their public office.

“There is a right to prevent the public from being significantly misled. At the very least, he was being economical with the truth.”

As a result, the News of the World yesterday revealed that Griffiths had downloaded 71 pictures from his camera to his laptop.

This contradicted Griffiths’ claim that he had “little recollection” of the night.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The paper also said parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyons, who on Thursday cleared Griffiths of wrongdoing, had failed to contact the News of the World for evidence.

The paper’s legal manager, Tom Crone, said: “We are publishing the story because Mr Griffiths has repeatedly lied publicly and also issued an extremely misleading statement.

“The parliamentary commissioner has also failed to investigate properly the several complaints he received from members of the public following our exclusive story last week.

“The judge’s decision confirms our belief that the latest revelations to be published in are legitimately in the public interest.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network