Carole Cadwalladr v Arron Banks: a victory for press freedom?

Carole Cadwalladr gives her first interview after Brexit campaigner Arron Bank loses his libel case against her. Mr Banks, the founder of the pro-Brexit campaign group Leave.EU, sued the investigative journalist for defamation over comments she made about his relationship with the Russian state.

Guests: Carole Cadwalladr, investigative journalist, and Sarah Palin, barrister, Doughty Street Chambers

Presenter: Katie Razzall

Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Clarification:

It has been drawn to our attention by Mr Banks’ lawyers since this was broadcast that while the Judge states Ms Cadwalladr had found being subjected to cross examination very stressful, she also expressly noted that the cross examination was undertaken properly and professionally by Mr Banks’ Leading Counsel.

Furthermore, during the course of the trial Ms Cadwalladr accepted that the tweet that was put to her did not actually accuse her of sleeping with a fellow journalist.

Mr Banks’ lawyers say that he did not sue TED Talks because it is based in the United States (which does not allow enforcement of English libel judgments); nor could he have sued the Observer because Ms Cadwalladr was not acting on behalf of the newspaper but rather as an individual. They also make the point that the allegations previously published by Ms Cadwalladr in the Observer were different to those made in the TED talk.