The Observer has apologised to Douglas Murray, the political commentator and journalist, for a libel published in its print edition in August 2024: The roots of this unrest lie in the warping of genuine working-class grievances. It was written in the aftermath of the riots which followed the murder of three young girls in Southport in July 2024. The article alleged that Mr Murray had stated that “the British soul is awakening and stirring with rage at what these people are doing”. It was stated in the article that Mr Murray’s reference to “these people” was to those immigrants and refugees who had been attacked during the riots of July 2024, who were described in the article as those “fearing for their lives, workers seeking refuge, those trying to ward off racist attackers on the streets.”
In fact, Mr Murray had made his “these people” statement in an entirely different context some 6 months before the riots took place. In November 2023, he spoke the words attributed to him by the Observer, but in regard to those who had organised a demonstration to take place on the same day as Remembrance Sunday in November 2023. His reference to “these people” had been to the organisers of the demonstration and clearly had nothing to do with chastising those who had been placed in fear during the Southport riots.
Mr Murray sued in libel and the claim was resolved by the payment of substantial damages, costs and the making of a joint statement in open court in which the Observer apologised for publishing the falsehoods complained of.
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5RB’s William Bennett KC, instructed by Mark Lewis of Patron Law, acted for Mr Murray.