Political blog Guido Fawkes says it has instructed lawyers to write to MP Claire Perry after readers voted in favour of suing her for defamation.
Guido started a readers' poll earlier today asking whether it should sue the Conservative MP after she claimed the blog had “sponsored” the hacking of her website.
According to the blog, 2,782 readers voted, with 86 per cent voting in favour of the motion.
Last night, Guido reported that Perry's website had been targeted by internet hackers who hosted porn on it.
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After seeing the story, she accused the blog of hosting a link to the pornography via her website. Guido asked her to take back the comment, saying it was defamatory.
She said on Twitter: "Apologies to anyone affected by the hacking of my website sponsored by Guido Fawkes – proves so clearly what we are dealing with."
Guido tweeted back: "Suggest you withdraw that defamatory claim immediately. @claire4devizes."
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She added: "That well-known responsible campaigner @guidofawkes has been hosting a link that distributed porn via my website."
Guido replied, also via Twitter, saying: "We don't have a link @claire4devizes so we can't take it down. You seem very confused. Nor did I sponsor the hacking of your website."
On Twitter, the Conservative MP also threatened to call the editor of The Sun over the issue.
This morning, a blog post on Guido Fawkes says the claims she made were “without any foundation, merit or a shred of evidence” and it started a poll of readers asking whether the site should sue Perry.
It said: “Perry does not have a leg to stand on here, so if she does not retract the bonkers allegations, should Guido unleash his lawyers?”
So far the MP has declined to retract the allegation.
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