Every Writ Is A Risk

[poliphilo]

Lord McAlpine is apparently thinking of suing Alan Davies. Alan Davies is quite popular (I think). The more people McAlpine sues the greater the chance he'll light on someone the public really likes- and the worm will turn. Or someone really articulate and clever who will hit back. Then we'll remember that Lord M isn't just a dewy-eyed old codger who has been grievously wronged but also a millionaire Thatcherite who once wrote a book about applying the principles of Machiavelli to contemporary business life. 

Comments

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

So in other words McAlpine should put up and shut up about his reputation being trashed via the internet?

It doesn't matter what his political alliances are. His name has been smeared. He has a right to sue.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, Lord M is totally in the right, but...

There's more to all this than just one man having his reputation trashed.

A great crime has been committed. The wrong man got fingered for it. But now that man is taking action that (a) diverts attention from the crime and (b) will inhibit people from discussing it. I suspect he knows exactly what he is doing.

And, no, his political allegiances don't particularly matter. I'd be saying the same things about him if he were a Labour grandee.

[ingenious76.livejournal.com]

Its possible he does, but its equally possible that he is reacting to being smeared and defamed.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've gone a bit conspiracy theory on this one. I could be wrong.