Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

How Charlie Whelan killed New Labour

Last summer, The Spectator received a letter from Charlie Whelan’s solicitors complaining about this post – where we mention their client’s spot of bother with his colleagues at Unite. Carter-Ruck were instructed on one of the no-win-no-fee deals: it cost Whelan nothing to sue, but could cost us £thousands to defend. So the lawyer’s letter is, by itself, an effective form of intimidation. A magazine with a small budget obviously faces huge pressure to do what he wanted: apologise, pay up and (suspiciously) undertake not to pursue the story any further. Under the circumstances, The Spectator could do only one thing.

Our full investigation into Charlie Whelan is the cover story of tomorrow’s magazine (see image, left). We have spoken to several Labour and union people – people who have no symapthy for our magazine, but who recognise that Whelan is trying to silence the press with libel threats and that he should be confronted. We have seen a copy of the grievance procedure brought against him by several members of Unite, some of who said they were too fearful of reprisals to be named.

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