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POP STAR CLIFF Richard has joined a group of campaigners calling for a change in the law which would give anonymity to those who are accused of sexual offences until they are charged.
Richard’s support for Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (FAIR) comes after a false allegation against him led to the BBC broadcasting a police raid on his home in August 2014. He was never arrested or charged.
FAIR is now calling for a “re-balancing of the legal system” in the UK.
Richard took legal action last year against the BBC over its coverage of the South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Berkshire following a child sex assault allegation.
The UK High Court awarded him £210,000 (€235,000) damages to be paid by both the BBC and the South Yorkshire Police.
Richard said being falsely accused and having it exposed in the media was “the worst thing that has happened to me in my entire life”.
“Even though untrue, the stigma is almost impossible to eradicate. Hence the importance of FAIR’s campaign to change the law to provide for anonymity before charge in sexual allegations and hence my continued work with FAIR in the future.
“Had this proposed change in the law been enacted when the police decided to raid my apartment following the allegations of a fantasist, the BBC would not have been able to film this event, name me, (even though the South Yorkshire Police had decided not to) and so plunge my life and those close to me into fear and misery,” Richard said.
The petition has amassed over 6,000 signatures since going live.
If it reaches 10,000 signatures, it will get a government response. At 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
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I bet Boris is saying “here we go again, we’re on the road again……”
@Peter O Donnell: you’d have to wonder is this all part of the plan… BJ successor, who supported his every move, runs the economy to the ground knowing she’ll be shown the door quickly, to make way for the second coming of the messiah
@Connor Coady: it was Sunaks Hawks who helped rallying the markets..
@Peter O Donnell: “we’re on our way to paradise”
@Kieran Fogarty: I was waiting for someone to finish it with were on our way to no10!
@Peter O Donnell: Uh Ah up the
@Joe Johnson: R/A??
@Peter O Donnell:
“Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is flying back to the UK this weekend, a journalist at the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Thursday.
The Times newspaper had reported that Johnson, who is on holiday abroad, was expected to stand in the race to replace Liz Truss who resigned as Prime Minister earlier on Thursday.”
It’s simple really, a large amount of Conservative MP’s think Boris can win them the next election. That’s all they are interested in. If the Country implodes in the meantime then they might just start thinking about people other than themselves. Don’t bet on it though.
@John Quinn: he is supposed to be 2nd or 3rd in the running and probably wont get the support of 100 MPs.
@Paul Furey: hopefully
Based on the performance of the UK govt over the past few years, I fully expect Boris to become PM for the second time. It’s the most stupid and British outcome.
@Cian Martin: That’s one of the best comments I’ve read on this!!
What are they smoking over there ? Absolutely bonkers
@Declan Moran: maybe that’s why Suella Braverman wanted cannabis upgraded to a class a drug..?
I thought that they had figured out that Boris and the Tories only got the big majority in the last election because of all their brexit lies/promises!
@james boylan: yes, but remember this PM election is a Tory party only thing – it’s not a GE, so they don’t care what the public thinks. They just want to figure out who will allow them to stay in power as long as possible until the next GE which they’re slated to lose.
‘The Cabinet minister said it was important to think about “who could win the next election” for the Conservatives.’ Or perhaps who could steer the country away from spectacular self-destruction? Nah, let’s focus on the election
The markets did not like Truss, they will not like BJ The Disruptor. He won’t get back in.
Many thanks for the laugh…..and the popcorn shortage here in Ireland
Bertie Ahern could fancy his chances of becoming the next Taoiseach again if BoJo pulls this off!!
This will invigorate Trump no end
If this was a drama series on Netflix youd be watching it going ah no this is too far-fetched im not buying this nonsense! Bo-Jo back are you serious!! Unless it was an extremely dark comedy…..
The comedy show continues.
I’m really enjoying this ,,pass the popcorn
I’d love to know if Charles said “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear” during Trusses call. ;-P
It says it all about the state of the Tories that when one is mentioned the first thing you have to do is find out which of the many, MANY factions within the conservative party they come from.
Any chance that this was the plan along with Boris?
Oh how funny had the Prime Ministers house been eight house down.
@Keth Warsaw: wha
Key in a bowl at number 10 lucky dip
First rule of The Journal : Always close the comments on a John Delaney story or he will sue your a**.
Second rule of The Journal : see first rule.
Preposterous
“The boss” “dudders” fgs
@Johnny Kelly: does nothing to dissuade us of the notion that Torys are just an old boys club of tw@ts
Hugh Grant for PM
All this talk about Truss resigning and new UK PM and the NI protocol has glossed over something much more important that happened over there tonight….. the last ever episode of “Mock The Week”. Now who will take the pi55
I would say she hasn’t a prayer!!
It’s a set up. Sunaks hawks in the markets drive her over edge. Obviously she destroyed herself, but it was driven.
It’s going to be Sunak. He was runner-up last time, and his helping to bring down Johnson is no longer “recent” politically.
This is as unbelievable as Bobby Ewing reappearing in the shower
Boris back! Trump back! Who’s next Shergar?
It is becoming more and more like “The Life of Brian” sketch “Quitters”.
It is classical British farce and nobody does it better, but this is their government!!
have your say