Commons Speaker’s wife settles Tweet libel

The British Commons Speaker’s wife Sally Bercow has settled a libel action brought by Lord McAlpine after the High Court found a tweet posted by her was highly defamatory of the Tory peer.

After the ruling by Mr Justice Tugendhat in Lord McAlpine’s favour, Ms Bercow said: “I have accepted an earlier offer his lawyers made to settle the matter.”

The amount of damages was not disclosed.

Her posting appeared two days after a Newsnight report last November wrongly implicated the former Conservative Party treasurer in allegations of sex abuse at Bryn Estyn children’s home in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mrs Bercow denied that the tweet – “Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *Innocent face*” – was defamatory, but Lord McAlpine, who has already received six-figure payouts from the BBC and ITV, said it pointed “the finger of blame” during a media frenzy.

Yesterday the judge agreed and said it meant Lord McAlpine was a paedophile who was guilty of sexually abusing boys living in care.

Ms Bercow said later: “In November 2012, I tweeted the question ‘Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*’. I did not tweet this with malice, and I did not intend to libel Lord McAlpine.

“I was being conversational and mischievous, as was so often my style on Twitter.

“I very much regret my tweet, and I promptly apologised publicly and privately to Lord McAlpine for the distress I caused him. I also made two offers of compensation.

“Lord McAlpine issued proceedings and the last few months have been a nightmare. I am sure he has found it as stressful as I have.

“Litigation is not a pleasant experience for anyone. Today the High Court found my tweet constituted a serious libel, both in its natural meaning and as an innuendo.

“To say I’m surprised and disappointed by this is an understatement. However, I will accept the ruling as the end of the matter.

“I remain sorry for the distress I have caused Lord McAlpine and I repeat my apologies.

“I have accepted an earlier offer his lawyers made to settle this matter.” (AP)

Sally Bercow, left, and Lord McAlpine. Photo: AP “ I was being conversationaland mischievous”