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Cllr Marc Cranfield-Adams, MIPR (Member of the Institute
of Public Relations), Richmond Council ward member for North Richmond,
has threatened the independent community websites with legal action
over a satirical cartoon photograph which is currently appearing
in the Journal (see The Other Richmond Press Office)
In an email to the editor of Twickenham Online on
Tuesday 9 March, Cllr Cranfield-Adams stated: "I have today
instructed my solicitors to advise me on potential libel proceedings
against you for the defamatory photograph that appears on your site
depicting various members of the Conservative Group on Richmond
Council in costumes not dissimilar to those of the 1970s pop group
"Village People", the style of which had/has strong homosexual
overtones. The members of the Group being myself, Cllr Kreling,
Cllr Avins, Cllr Arbour, Cllr Taylor and Cllr Samuel." (Ed
- no complaint has been received from any other Councillor depicted
in the cartoon).
| Cllr Cranfield-Adams later added to
this statement: "Further to my e-mail, I am now advised
that the depiction of the Councillors as described is in fact
defamatory. Therefore, if it is not removed by Noon, tomorrow
(Wednesday, 10 March 2004) I will be contacting your ISP to
ensure that they take action to remove the material from this
service. This may, of course, involve the removal of your entire
website. You should also be aware that there is a legal precedent
for this in a case involving Demon." (Ed-
this contradicts the statement that it was never his intention
to remove the website). |
The Iraqi Information Minister series of "photo
cartoons" produced by the Independent Community Websites has
been acclaimed, not only within the borough of Richmond on Thames
but far and wide, as innovative examples of the long-established
and noble tradition of satire.
"The joy of the Iraqi Information Minister
is he gets it all wrong, as we all know. It's all such fun,"
said Lizzy Cole, the artist who produced the picture. "Anyway,
why should being depicted as the Village People be considered defamation?
It's in the mind of the beholder."
This issue generated many responses and letters
of support for the LGBT community and condemnations of Marc Cranfield-Adams.
Click
here to read them.
In order to confirm that Cranfield-Adams's allegations
were untrue Cass Mann wrote to Cllr.
Dance asking her if she had any knowledge of this campaign against
her and if so to produce it and if not to refute it.
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