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Palace complains to watchdog over Sun's 'Queen backs Brexit' claims Palace complains to watchdog over Sun's 'Queen backs Brexit' claims
(35 minutes later)
Buckingham Palace has taken the highly unusual step of complaining to press regulator Ipso about a front-page story in the Sun on Wednesday that claimed the Queen had voiced strong Eurosceptic views. Buckingham Palace has taken the highly unusual step of complaining to press regulator Ipso about a front-page story in the Sun on Wednesday that claimed the Queen had voiced strong Eurosceptic views and wanted to quit the EU.
The story, headlined “Queen backs Brexit”, said the monarch vented her anger with Brussels at the former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, during a lunch at Windsor Castle in 2011. The former Lib Dem leader dismissed the report as “nonsense” following publication.The story, headlined “Queen backs Brexit”, said the monarch vented her anger with Brussels at the former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, during a lunch at Windsor Castle in 2011. The former Lib Dem leader dismissed the report as “nonsense” following publication.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have this morning written to the chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation to register a complaint about the front-page story in today’s Sun newspaper.A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have this morning written to the chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation to register a complaint about the front-page story in today’s Sun newspaper.
Related: Queen's Brexit rant never happened, says Nick Clegg
“The complaint relates to clause one of the editors’ code of practice.”“The complaint relates to clause one of the editors’ code of practice.”
Clause one of the Ipso editors’ code of practice covers accuracy. In particular, the clause outlaws “inaccurate, misleading or distorted information” including headlines not supported by the text of the story itself. Related: Queen's Brexit rant never happened, says Nick Clegg
The Palace has pointed out that, even if any conversation took place about Europe, the idea of a referendum was some way in the future and Brexit was not even coined as a term. Clause one of the Ipso editors’ code of practice covers accuracy. In particular, the clause outlaws “inaccurate, misleading or distorted information” including headlines not supported by the text of the story itself. In an increasingly online world, a headline is often read by many more people than read the story.
Palace officials are understood to be particularly incensed with the fact that, even if any conversation took place about Europe, the idea of a referendum was some way in the future and Brexit was not even coined as a term.
The article, described by the paper as an “exclusive bombshell”, was written by the Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn, who quoted “a senior political source” and “a highly reliable source”.The article, described by the paper as an “exclusive bombshell”, was written by the Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn, who quoted “a senior political source” and “a highly reliable source”.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The Queen remains politically neutral, as she has for 63 years ... The referendum will be a matter for the British people.”
It is understood to be the first time that the Palace has complained to Ipso, which was founded in September 2014.It is understood to be the first time that the Palace has complained to Ipso, which was founded in September 2014.
However, the Royal household has made several complaints to the body which preceded Ipso, the Press Complaints Commission, including over a story in the Evening Standard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s cancer scare and in 2001 over tapes of the Countess of Wessex in the Sun and pictures of Prince William in Ok magazine. The Palace did not complain last July when the Sun printed a family photo of the Queen as a child apparently doing a Nazi salute on its front page.
The Palace did not complain last July when the Sun splashed on a family snap of the Queen as a child doing the Nazi salute. However, the royal household has made several complaints to Ipso’s predecessor, the Press Complaints Commission. In 1999, the Palace made a formal complaint to the PCC about the publication of a topless picture of the then Sophie Rhys-Jones – now the Countess of Wessex – and in 2001 complained over tapes of her in the Sun. In 2008 the Palace complained over a story in the London Evening Standard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s cancer scare and in 2001 over pictures of Prince William in OK! magazine.
Clause 1 of the editors’ of practice also states that a “significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published”. In December, Ipso told the Sun to print a front-page correction over a claim that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was willing to join the privy council because his party stood to benefit financially. The complaint against the Brexit story, if investigated and upheld by Ipso, could lead to a front-page apology. Clause one of the editors’ code of practice states that a “significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and – where appropriate – an apology published”.
Privy councillors are again at the centre of the latest row. In December, Ipso told the Sun to print a front-page correction over a claim that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was willing to join the privy council because his party stood to benefit financially.
Other attendees at the lunch included Conservative Brexit supporters Michael Gove and Cheryl Gillan, and LibDem peer Lord McNally. Other attendees at the lunch in 2011 reported in Wednesday’s Sun included Conservative Brexit supporters Michael Gove and Cheryl Gillan, and Lib Dem peer Lord McNally.
Gove was widely regarded in Westminster as the most likely source; but a spokesman for the justice minister insisted he had no idea where the story came from. “We don’t comment on private conversations with the Queen,” he added. Other attendees at the lunch said they had no memory of any discussion about the EU taking place. Gove was widely regarded in Westminster as the most likely source, but a spokesman for the justice minister insisted he had no idea where the story came from.
David Cameron saw Gove on Wednesday morning as part of his regular preparation for prime minister’s questions; but a spokesman for Number 10 refused to say whether the Sun story was discussed. “We don’t comment on private conversations with the Queen,” he added.
Other attendees at the lunch said they had no memory of any discussion about the EU taking place.
David Cameron saw Gove on Wednesday morning as part of his regular preparation for prime minister’s questions, but a spokesman for No 10 refused to say whether the Sun story was discussed.
The Sun, edited by Tony Gallagher since last September, is yet to respond.