Tory TV Star Pays MP Libel Settlement

Oh dear, would be Tory MP and former GMTV presenter (you decide which of those things is more embarrassing!) Esther McVey has been forced to pay her Labour opponent £6,500 in damages and legal costs after making a slur against him.

Ms McVey said:

"There was no court hearing and there was no court victory, instead a settlement was reached last Friday afternoon by way of a consent order. I decided to settle this case the most practical and pragmatic way I could."

"There are far more important issues to be dealing with rather than scrapping with the sitting Labour MP over what was essentially a technical, and some might consider in relation to all the issues affecting us at the moment, a trivial matter, and, after a year the only people winning were the lawyers."

Essentially a technical issue which has cost you £6,500 - plus your own legal costs - for bringing it up in the first place.

I have to say that I am quite a fan of the MP in question, and good on him for accepting the settlement in a magnanimous matter - donating the damages to charity:

"The last year has been a real strain on myself and my family because of this case. I think that people will start to wonder about my Tory opponent. Not only was she willing to publish false material, she was unwilling to make proper amends until forced to do so. I am very relieved that it is over.

"The one good thing to come out of this is that I will donate the £1,000 damage to St John’s Hospice, one of our most important local charities."

As they say, actions speak louder than words. Well done Stephen Hesford.
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