The High Court (DHCJ Guy Vassall-Adams KC) has determined meaning following a preliminary issue trial in a libel claim brought by Andy Ngo, a journalist and the author of the book Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy, against Guardian News & Media.
The claim concerns an article published in the Observer and on theguardian.com, which reviewed Mumford & Sons’ album, Rushmere. The article opened by stating that Winston Marshall (the band’s former banjo player) had left the band following “an outcry after he praised ‘alt-right’ agitator Andy Ngo.” The Claimant sued over the description of “alt-right agitator”.
The High Court handed down its judgment on 28 November 2025. It held that the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of is that “the Claimant actively promotes far-right beliefs”.
The High Court also held that for readers who would know that alt-right is a descriptive term for an amalgam of racists and white supremacists, the article bore the innuendo meaning that “the Claimant actively promotes far right, racist and white supremacist beliefs”.
Both the natural and ordinary meaning and the innuendo meaning were found to be defamatory at common law and statements of fact.
5RB’s William Bennett KC appeared for the Claimant, instructed by Patron Law.
5RB’s Ben Gallop appeared for the Defendant, instructed in-house by GNM.