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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
(about 3 hours 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 and wanted to quit the EU. 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 Britain 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 towards 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.
“The complaint relates to clause one of the editors’ code of practice.” The claims about the Queen’s views provoked speculation at Westminster about who could have been the source of the story, with many pointing the finger at Michael Gove, the pro-Brexit justice secretary who also attended the lunch in 2011. Others present included the Lib Dem peer Lord McNally and the Conservative MP Cheryl Gillam.
Related: Queen's Brexit rant never happened, says Nick Clegg However, a spokesman for Gove insisted he had no idea who could have been the source for the leak. “We don’t comment on private conversations with the Queen,” he added.
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. Other attendees at the lunch said they had no memory of any discussion about the EU taking place.
Sun executives were understood to be confident of their sources and even “relaxed” about the subsequent furore. One insider described the Palace’s criticism of the headline as “mere semantics”. Executives even insisted that the Palace’s “hilarious overreaction” had guaranteed space for the story on the next day’s front pages. The Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, who wrote the story, approached both Sally Osman, the corporate communications chief for the Palace, and Clegg after lunch the day before publication. Sun executives described the subsequent response as “non-denial denials”. 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 pair discussed the Sun story.
A Sun spokesperson added: “The Sun stands by its story, which was based upon two impeccable sources and presented in a robust, accessible fashion. The Sun will defend this complaint vigorously.” Buckingham Palace said its complaint to Ipso “relates to clause one of the editors’ code of practice”.
Palace officials are understood to be particularly incensed about 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. 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.
The article was described by the paper as an “exclusive bombshell” and cited “a senior political source” and “a highly reliable source”. A Sun spokesperson said: “The Sun stands by its story, which was based upon two impeccable sources and presented in a robust, accessible fashion. The Sun will defend this complaint vigorously.”
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”.
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.”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.”
The case raises interesting questions about the relationship between the royal family and the press under its relatively new system of self-regulation. Executives at the Sun were said to be pleased to “break the convention” that the Queen has no views and not unduly concerned about the sanctions likely to be introduced by Ipso.
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.
The Palace did not complain last July when the Sun printed a family photograph of the Queen as a child apparently doing a Nazi salute on its front page. Sun executives were understood to be confident of their sources and even “relaxed” about the subsequent furore. Indeed, one insider described the Palace criticism of a headline focusing on Brexit as “mere semantics”. Executives even insisted that the “hilarious overreaction” by the palace had merely guaranteed space for the story on the next day’s front pages. Tom Newton Dunn approached both Sally Osman, the corporate communications chief for the palace, and Nick Clegg after lunch the day before publication. Sun executives described the subsequent response as “non denial denials”.
However, the royal household 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 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. The case raises interesting questions about the relationship between the press and the royal family and its relatively new system of self-regulation. Sun executives are said to be pleased to “break the convention” that the Queen has no views and are not unduly concerned about the sanctions likely to be introduced by Ipso.
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.
However, the royal household has made several complaints to Ipso’s predecessor, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). 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 about a story in the London Evening Standard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s cancer scare and in 2001 about pictures of Prince William in OK! magazine.
The complaint about 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”.The complaint about 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”.
In December, Ipso told the Sun to print a front-page correction over a claim that the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was willing to join the privy council because his party stood to benefit financially. 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 in 2011 reported in Wednesday’s Sun included Conservative Brexit supporters Michael Gove and Cheryl Gillan, and Lib Dem peer Lord McNally. Related: Queen's Brexit rant never happened, says Nick Clegg
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.
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.