Whatever is done for good is never done in vain. Plautus (paraphrased)
Thank you to everyone that supported the Orkney Four in their fight to hold their MP Alistair Carmichael accountable for telling blatant lies following his malicious attempt to smear Nicola Sturgeon whilst Secretary of State for Scotland.
Thank you to the Orkney Four themselves for having the courage to risk their livelihoods and reputation in pursuit of justice.
Carmichael won his case on a legal technicality – the distinction between a personal lie and a political lie. However the judges did uphold two of the three planks of the petitioners’ case, branding Carmichael a “blatant liar” who was “at best disingenuous, at worst evasive and self-serving”. The Orkney Four were far more successful than many anticipated, including legal experts.
It is a sad indictment of the British political system that our representatives are allowed to lie to the public and each other with impunity. This should be illegal. Instead, it’s taken as read that it’s part of their job.
The media are also a disgrace. The Telegraph newspaper was complicit in peddling Carmichael’s “Frenchgate” smear without checking its accuracy. The Press Complaints Commission has now upheld Nicola Sturgeon’s complaint against the Telegraph, but such victories get buried and ignored. Nothing will change.
The end of the #carmichaelmustgo campaign is in sight but there is still around £2000 to raise. It is not cheap to hold our political representatives to account. If you would like to help please visit the following link:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-people-versus-carmichael/payments/new
Magnus the Martyr 