Support Dave Osler, John Gray and Alex Hilton

I know that this is being reported widely elsewhere by British political bloggers but I felt I couldn’t not at least express my support to bloggers Dave Osler, John Gray and Alex Hilton, who are being sued for defamation by Tory activist Johanna Kaschke.

Dave Osler’s latest post sets out the basis for the libel case. This is a brief summary:

In 2007 Kaschke nominated herself as Labour candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow but she received just one vote. Shortly after she defected to the Respect party then a little later to an unnamed Communist Party. Not long after she became a Conservative. Strangely . Kaschke contends that listing her affiliations denies her the right to freedom of association under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The jury will also be asked to decide whether calling her 'one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte'. Is libellous. This was not written by Dave Osler but by a person leaving a comment As Dave Osler says “If I lose on that point, the consequences for internet freedom of speech are clearly considerable.”

John Gray is being sued on a related matter. Alex Hilton’s suit is on the basis that he runs of Labour Home and not for any comment he has made.

This is a ridiculous suit that deserves to be laughed out of court. It appears to be the work of someone who has far too thin a skin for the rough and tumble of politics. I don’t believe that politics should be abusive but one should not run to the courts over such a mild insult! So here goes: Johanna Kaschke is a poopy-faced, knicker-wetter who has fleas, nits and (for the benefit of north American readers) cooties too.

Anyone who goes through four parties in a year is not likely to be considered for high office. Perhaps that is just as well... However, if she wins the the law will demonstrate itself to be an ass but polyorchid (polyorcidism is a condition where a man has more than the normal amount of testicles. In this sense the law will show itself to be a load of bollocks)