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  1. Media Law
July 9, 2014

Daily Mail in £15k libel payout to MP wrongly implicated in expenses wrongdoing

By William Turvill

The Daily Mail has paid out £15,000 after false allegations were made about an MP and his expenses record.

The Mail reported on 5 April that Tom Clarke, Labour MP for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, was involved in the decision to reduce the amount of expenses that former culture secretary Maria Miller should repay.

It also suggested that Clarke, sitting in the Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges, was "motivated by his own expenses record”.

In fact, Clarke, 73, played  no part in the committee’s decision “due to a medical appointment”.

A Daily Mail correction said: “[He] has never been criticised over, or asked to repay, any expenses claim. We apologise for any contrary suggestion.”

The apology was published on 2 June and Clarke has since registered the payment in the MPs’ register of financial interests.

The entry in the register said: “Associated Newspapers, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT paid £15,000 to settle an action which I brought for defamation."

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