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McAlpine set to reach settlement with BBC over Newsnight investigation McAlpine set to reach settlement with BBC over Newsnight investigation
(35 minutes later)
Lord McAlpine, the former Conservative party treasurer who was wrongly linked to a child sex abuse scandal, is on the brink of reaching a settlement with the BBC over their bungled Newsnight investigation.Lord McAlpine, the former Conservative party treasurer who was wrongly linked to a child sex abuse scandal, is on the brink of reaching a settlement with the BBC over their bungled Newsnight investigation.
Lawyers for McAlpine are also set to send a letter to ITV's This Morning, after host Phillip Schofield thrust a list of alleged paedophiles drawn from the internet into the hand of David Cameron during an interview.Lawyers for McAlpine are also set to send a letter to ITV's This Morning, after host Phillip Schofield thrust a list of alleged paedophiles drawn from the internet into the hand of David Cameron during an interview.
ITV confirmed on Thursday that it had taken "appropriate disciplinary action" against Schofield and three other This Morning staff over the incident. Schofield will be presenting the show on Thursday.
Solicitor Andrew Reid told Radio 4's Today programme he was hoping to agree a settlement with the BBC on Thursday.Solicitor Andrew Reid told Radio 4's Today programme he was hoping to agree a settlement with the BBC on Thursday.
"Lord McAlpine is more than aware that the ultimate people who will be paying any monies that he may receive are in fact the licence payers, the people who really own the BBC, and he is very much aware of this and hence any agreement that is reached is tempered in the light of that," he said."Lord McAlpine is more than aware that the ultimate people who will be paying any monies that he may receive are in fact the licence payers, the people who really own the BBC, and he is very much aware of this and hence any agreement that is reached is tempered in the light of that," he said.
A spokesman for the BBC said: "The BBC is hopeful that it can agree a settlement with Lord McAlpine today."A spokesman for the BBC said: "The BBC is hopeful that it can agree a settlement with Lord McAlpine today."
Reid also said those who named the peer on Twitter should come forward and apologise because "we know how you are". He added that specialist firms have recorded tweets which name McAlpine.Reid also said those who named the peer on Twitter should come forward and apologise because "we know how you are". He added that specialist firms have recorded tweets which name McAlpine.
"We know who you are, we know exactly the extent of what you have done," he said. "It's easiest to come forward, because that is the cheapest and best way.""We know who you are, we know exactly the extent of what you have done," he said. "It's easiest to come forward, because that is the cheapest and best way."
Those who have already apologised include Guardian journalist George Monbiot and Sally Bercow, the wife of Speaker John Bercow.Those who have already apologised include Guardian journalist George Monbiot and Sally Bercow, the wife of Speaker John Bercow.
Speaking for the first time about the botched Newsnight investigation McAlpine said the whole affair "gets into your bones, it gets into your soul".Speaking for the first time about the botched Newsnight investigation McAlpine said the whole affair "gets into your bones, it gets into your soul".
"You just think there is something wrong with the world," he said, in an interview to be broadcast in full on Radio 4's The World at One programme later on Thursday."You just think there is something wrong with the world," he said, in an interview to be broadcast in full on Radio 4's The World at One programme later on Thursday.
He confirmed the BBC did not try and contact him prior to broadcast, and that if they had they could have saved themselves "a lot of agonising and money".He confirmed the BBC did not try and contact him prior to broadcast, and that if they had they could have saved themselves "a lot of agonising and money".
"Of course they should have called me," he said. "I would have told them exactly what they learned later on, that it was complete rubbish. They could have saved themselves a lot of agonising and money actually if they's just made that telephone call.""Of course they should have called me," he said. "I would have told them exactly what they learned later on, that it was complete rubbish. They could have saved themselves a lot of agonising and money actually if they's just made that telephone call."
He thanked Steve Messham – who accused an unnamed former Tory figure of child abuse in the Newsnight broadcast, sparking false internet rumours about McAlpine – for coming forward to admit it was a case of mistaken identity.He thanked Steve Messham – who accused an unnamed former Tory figure of child abuse in the Newsnight broadcast, sparking false internet rumours about McAlpine – for coming forward to admit it was a case of mistaken identity.
"I was very grateful he said that," he said. "I have deep sympathy with him, he is obviously a man who has suffered a lot in his life. I've been blessed in my life, I've been very lucky but he has had a terrible time. But it wasn't me"."I was very grateful he said that," he said. "I have deep sympathy with him, he is obviously a man who has suffered a lot in his life. I've been blessed in my life, I've been very lucky but he has had a terrible time. But it wasn't me".
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