At the High Court today the following joint statement was agreed.
On 29 April 2016, Jake Wallis Simons and Craig Murray appeared together on Sky News to debate anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom. Following that debate, Dr Wallis Simons issued libel proceedings against Mr Murray. Dr Wallis Simons and Mr Murray have now settled these proceedings.
By this statement, Mr Murray accepts that Dr Wallis Simons is not a liar, and Dr Wallis Simons accepts that Mr Murray is not an anti-Semite. They are both pleased to have resolved this dispute amicably.
I am genuinely happy with this outcome, which would never have been remotely possible without the incredible 5,000 plus people who donated to my defence fund and enabled me to be represented by a top legal team. It continues to be my view that the libel laws are appalling – had I lost the case I was very definitely looking at a cost of £350,000 plus.
I am also very grateful to the band of readers of this blog who arrived to support me, and in the end saw very little. When invited to open the case the other side immediately asked for an adjournment to discuss a settlement. The hour of delay which followed was occupied on our side almost entirely by my agonising over whether it was morally acceptable for me to agree this statement and use the defence fund to pay my lawyers, or whether those who donated did so in the expectation I would fight the case whatever.
There were a number of supporters at hand who had donated, many of whom were personally previously unknown to me, and the opinions I could canvass were unanimously that this was a good result and a good use of their money.
Having agreed to settle in this way, I have arrived at this following decision. If anybody who donated feels they have been unduly sold out, please let me know through the contact button above and your donation will be refunded to you.
When we started the defence fund, our “realistic” projection was a total of £12,000. That we eventually raised over £100,000 is astonishing. Equally astonishing, but in a bad way, is that my own legal team’s cost almost amounts to that – I will publish full accounts in due course. After all is settled and refunds issued to those who wish, if anything is left over I propose to split it between Andy Wightman’s defence fund and Neil Clark’s case against Oliver Kamm. Again please do let me know if you object. It’s actually your money not mine.
I did not realise how this has been weighing me down, until the threat has been lifted today. I have never claimed to be entirely without fault, and I would ask you to refrain from any comment here which detracts from the amicable spirit of the joint statement. It is a time for celebration not recrimination, and please confine any rudeness to remarks about me.
Genuinely pleased at the outcome for both you and your family, and for Dr Wallis Simons. I should think that you’ll celebrate Christmas a little more serenely this year. I gave to your defence fund not expecting anything in return except the hope that you’d continue your blog, so I support your decision to split the funds. You can use some of my contribution for an extra present for your family and a small glass for yourself. A very early Happy Christmas!
Good decision, well done.
It must be a tremendous relief to you and yours.
Use my small donation as you see fit in the spirit it was given.
All the best.
Congratulations and well done.
So pleased you are in good spirits as to the outcome. We wish you all the best & look forward to reading more of your Blogs.
Craig
I’m so pleased that the cloud has been lifted. Regardless of whether fighting on might have ultimately been successful it in clear that very few people would not be seriously affected by the stress of it all. I hope your physical and mental health have not been damaged too badly and that you can look forward with optimism and renewed vigour.
Craig, I donated as much as I could afford and for what it is worth, I think you were right to settle. The law in most countries becomes an economic calculation and Justice is rarely delivered in full. Just glad that my meagre contribution helped settle the matter. I will raise a glass of Highland Park with you in mind tonight.
Happy for your result and for you to use any donation left for other worthwhile causes
Fantastic news, Craig. That has to be a heavy weight off your mind.
Feel free to the use the small amount of cash I donated – I trust you to use it wisely. I’ve been amazed at legal fees for ever – why we pay barristers and solicitors so much more per hour than ambulance crews is beyond me. You rely on both to help you but only the ambulance crew will save your life…
All the very best for the future.
Congratulations, I am very happy for you! Also, excellent choice of alternative uses for the money, as far as my little contribution is concerned.
Very pleased for you Craig, I also supported Neil Clark’s campaign so would be happy if you could further support his cause.
Excellent – glad this is over.
You’re welcome to use my contribution as you wish!
What is going with the attacks on Boris? He is being pilloried for saying that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was working for the UK government in Iran yet he is refusing to apologise and is being very technical about not saying that he was wrong in what he said to the select committee.
In June last year NZR’s husband gave an interview with the Guardian which was later edited.
It now says “Sometimes, he wonders if the Revolutionary Guard has genuinely mistaken his wife’s CV for evidence of espionage, even though the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no presence or operation in Iran.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/25/nazanin-zaghari-richard-ratcliffe-iran-imprisoned
But if we use The Way Back Machine we can see the original text of that paragraph was “Sometimes, he wonders if the Revolutionary Guard has genuinely mistaken his wife’s CV for evidence of espionage, even though the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no presence or operation in Iran. Among the projects she manages is the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which is part funded by the British government.” https://web.archive.org/web/20160625071159/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/25/nazanin-zaghari-richard-ratcliffe-iran-imprisoned
This raises the obvious question of why the mention of The Westminster Foundation For Democracy was removed and why there has been no mention of it at all in any of the media coverage or parliamentary discussion during the past week. My guess is that she was assisting opposition in groups in Iran and there is now some of blackout on it. This also means that the attacks against Boris are deliberate and co-ordinated.
Boris’s job is to do his best to get Nazanin out of prison in Iran. His comments have very clearly done anything but. The post of Foreign Secretary requires diplomacy- something Boris is clearly utterly incapable of for all that he is supposed to be intelligent and can spout latin. THAT is why people are having a very justifiable go at Boris.
This is not the first blunder he has made; he is incapable of doing the job of Foreign Secretary and should be sacked for his incompetence.
Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. Zaghari may have been involved in deniable British activities, and they’re now being denied. The Iranians don’t arrest people for nothing.
Boris is aware of this, and needs to be extremely careful all round:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/international-development/Chair-to-FCO-detention-of-Nazanin-Zaghari-Ratcliffe.pdf
Both Ratcliffes have worked in co-ordination with HMG, and Nazanin was doing so while otherwise innocuously employed by Reuters.
Her vehicles, according to the above, included these –
The ‘CPA’ is the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Parliamentary_Association
‘The Westminster Consortium’ is either a defunct limited company or something rather harder to find. It apparently collaborates with the CPA abroad, and it may be this:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/TheWestminsterConsortium/?_fb_noscript=1
And this is the ‘Westminster Foundation for Democracy’
http://www.wfd.org/
It’s unsurprising that Iran, not a huge fan of Western-style democracy or its insidious promotion among the population, would take a dim view of this.
Apparently references to this aspect of the Ratcliffes’ existence are disappearing from the universe. You read it here last…
See the mullahs jumping for joy at the WFD’s strategic vision for making everything globally compliant?
http://www.wfd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/WFD_STRATEGY_2017-002-2.pdf
I’m afraid I don’t. And if I’d been working for WFD, I wouldn’t have gone near Iran.
Dear Craig
Good man. Nah fella – I sent you cash so you didn’t get totally screwed not as a matter of principle to fight.
Still disagree with you about most things but get thee to the boozer and have a few days off.
Bravo!
DtP
Mrs May’s go between (UK & Israeli governments) has been caught out. Israel say May knows all about what Priti Patel was up to, Mrs May says no she didn’t.
Mrs May was looking for a way to give British Taxpayers money to the Israeli army, Ms Patel was helping.
The Israeli’s like all armies have hospitals.
Mrs May wants to give British Taxpayers money to Israeli army hospitals because if the Israelis don’t kill their targets they sometimes have to treat them and oh yes they also help refugees, refugees that the Israelis and Britain helped to make.
Now at the moment the Israelis pay for the hospitals and also pay for the bullets but Mrs May doesn’t want to pay for bullets so the Israelis said we won’t spend British money on bullets just the hospitals.
I asked a friend who knows about this kind of thing and I asked him if the Israelis don’t have to spend as much on hospitals because Britain is helping what will they spend the money on that they save? Bullets he said! Or at least that what I thought he said.
“refugees that the Israelis and Britain helped to make”
and not forgetting the terrorists that the Israelis and Britain helped to make also;
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Israel-treating-al-Qaida-fighters-wounded-in-Syria-civil-war-393862
Macky,
I find it weird, that the Israeli & the US Government’s and their Press are far more open and honest about all their nefarious activities, than are The UK Government and Press. Maybe it is because they are proud of being so evil, whilst us British are ashamed (whilst continuing to do as much evil as they are).
I am still trying to work out, who is running the show – you know The Big Boss in The Video Game.
Tony
@Tony, Respected informed opinion (eg Chomsky) is that the dog wags the tail, and not vice-versa; that seems reasonable for the most part, until the dog starting indulging in self-harm because of it’s tail.
Is that a Macky original?
“until the dog starting indulging in self-harm because of it’s tail.”
I’m going to have to research Manx cats now, to try and find out how it happenned, and what happens next.
The Isle of Man cats obviously survived – so that is a good sign…though the tails didn’t.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_cat
Tony
@Tony, yes it’s just me; the dog will also survive, but it’s deformity will always be a reminder that it’s tail eventually became a yoke.
Happy that you’re happy! Glad to have contributed in a small way to your funds.
After a breather, there’s an awful lot of vile / hilarious politics for you to get your teeth into!
Good on you Craig! I’m so glad you have come out of this terrible situation favourably. I hope that all of your supporters feel proud of themselves – a fine victory.
Genuinely feeling relieved and I don’t even know you!
I’ve unfortunately seen close-up how soul-destroying and worrying a court case can be, even when the judge is on your side (but the law – on a technicality – isn’t). We actually paid a lot of money for a settlement with a party that had no right to it, just to put a much needed end to a destructive ten-year legal battle which did indeed bankrupt the person we were supporting. In hindsight it was absolutely the right thing to do and a great relief to the defendant who has now been able to move forward with their life.
So congratulations to you and yours and I hope you can all now put this behind you and concentrate on much more productive endeavours.
Dear Craig,
I am very happy for you and the outcome. I also agree with your proposed use of the left-over funds, if any. I am alway looking forward to reading your blog and hope you will be able to keep on writing it for many years to come.
With best regards,
Milan Sulc
Very well done Craig. I shall not be asking for my money back. I donated so you could get through this business and continue to provide us with the important information and analysis which is, to my mind, rarely to be found anywhere else.
#JakeWSimons v #CraigMurray #HighCourt case settled amicably #7November2017 (see https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2017/11/the-end-of-the-affair/).
How much #legaldosh did #MLewisLawyer make from the deal, I wonder?
I won’t be surprised if Priti Patel stays in office for the time being. Recall that after winning the Tory leadership Theresa May went to have dinner with the Chief Rabbi before going to see the Queen some time later to be appointed prime minister.
Source: http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/theresa-may-dined-with-chief-rabbi-on-eve-of-becoming-pm/.
See also
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/theresa-may-s-rosh-hashanah-reception-1.444269.
“Jewish values will prevail” she said. Imagine if she’d said “Muslim values will prevail”, “Christian values will prevail”, “Palestinian values will prevail”, “American values will prevail”, “Gipsy values will prevail”, White values will prevail”, or “Black values will prevail”.
As soon as Andrea Leadsom dropped out and May learnt she would become PM, her first act before going to spend hours with the Chief Rabbi was to attend a meeting of the Holocaust Education Trust, where she signed a “pledge” commemorating what happened to European Jews at the hands of Germans, Ukrainians, etc. 70 years ago.
Source: https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/prime-minister-in-waiting-theresa-may-commits-to-remembering-the-holocaust-1.60410.
When Benjamin Netanyahu learnt he would become Zionist prime minister, does anyone think he signed a document to commemorate what happened to British prisoners in Burma in the 1940s and then went to dinner with the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, before he found time to get formally appointed?
That sounds like a good decision to me, Craig, and a good result. Well done!
Now to get you to Bath…
Would it be no to far from the truth to infer that the complainant is probably 100k out of pocket? Or was he outgunned by the many?
Priti Patel gone!
This series of events is extraordinary! I can’t remember anything similar.
Aidworker1,
it is getting so bizzare, I’m wondering what’s going to happen next. I wrote this on The Independent an hour ago (I think I am banned everywhere else in The MSM in The UK)
Tony_Opmoc
This is even worse Than Liam Fox – Matthew Gould – Adam Werritty – Mossad 6 Years ago…
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2011/11/gould-werritty-a-real-conspiracy-not-a-theory/
Whilst Liam Fox was fired (in my view it was Treason) – he is still there??? How did this happen?
These people are supposed to be working for us The British – not some foreign Government.
I continue to be disgusted and appalled.
Tony
@Tony, there’s a term for such people;
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/why-the-term-israel-first_b_1252789.html
Macky,
Great link, However, I had to stop reading when it got to the American “Walter Reed Army Hospital” equivalent of our local Headley Court. It got too personal. I have met some of the legless victims, trying to fake it on artificial limbs. I was brave, went along with it, and introduced them to my wife. But I know the truth, and so do they. I wasn’t going to embarrass them, nor cry till I got home.
Tony
Congratulations Craig
I too am thrilled that you and your family are spared the ongoing trauma of trial and associated costs. Bad enough that you had to endure what you did.
I can’t help sensing that the greater tide has turned, meaning that maybe a year ago, you would not have been spared.
God Bless
Craig, it is good that this weight has been removed from your shoulders. Use my contribution to assist Andy Wightman’s case by all means with my blessing.
A good day.
I sent a couple of quid and am happy for you to spend any excess as you see fit. Having also contributed to Andy Wightman’s fund I think that is an exceptionally good place for some of it. I hadn’t been aware of Neil Clark at all. I am now.
That they rolled over and quit having brought the ‘case’ in the first place is, in my learned opinion, a win! Celebrate as such.
Once it gets out that the proles are fighting back with our only strength – overwhelming numbers and anger – perhaps the spurious court cases against our champions will begin to tail off. Even (especially) the obscenely wealthy hate to throw away their money needlessly. Good luck and keep up the good work- even the bits I disagree with.
No, you keep it. You deserve it, for all the crap you’ve had to wade through. Happy for you.
Great news Craig, glad to have supported you through this