Labourlist and Schillings: a meeting of minds
How about this then. New Labour’s shiny new propaganda ghetto masquerading as a blog, Labourlist, (run by former influence peddler Derek Draper) has a lawyer. That lawyer is Schillings. Remember them?
Schillings, a London Law firm, have closed down several prominent political blogs by contacting their webhosts, on behalf the new part owner of Arsenal – Alisher Usmanov. These blogs have made criticisms of Mr Usmanov. Schillings alleged that these criticisms were defamatory, and threatened legal action. Note that no court action has been taken, but the freedom to debate Mr Usmanov’s record has been taken away by the mere making of a threat.
The last times Schillings got themselves involved in the world of blogging, nearly 300 British bloggers from left, right and centre registered their disgust. You could say Schillings are not exactly flavour of the month in these parts. Or those who employ them. What an excellent way to get the attention of political bloggers. With their shared attitudes to open debate and freedom of speech New Labour and Schillings should get on famously.
(Tim has more on Draper’s quest to be ‘Labour’s Iain Dale’. He’s mimicking the methods of the exemplars of blogging very well so far.)
Posted on January 13th, 2009 at 2:44pm under Alisher Usmanov, Civil liberties, Eye Catching Initiatives, Human rights, New Labour
| Related posts... • It’s been a privilege • A heartfelt plea to non-bloggers • Alisher Usmanov and Schillings: back again |
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• 3 Comments |
I tried, I really did. I gave them constructive feedback, I tried to make some (intelligent) comments and tried to engage with their commentors. Eventually I just gave up under the sheer weight of the dirge and above all, the dullness of the commentors.
If that is the wit and intellectual rigour of the left, then they really do deserve to have their arses handed to them on a plate by Bandwagon Dave.
Obnoxio, I would be more impressed if you spoke out about the very similar censorship tactics used by Paul Staines (who is even proposing a new system not unlike the ‘trash’ function used by Draper).
See also Mike Power.