Rachel Riley loses latest round of libel battle with Corbyn-supporting blogger

Television presenter Rachel Riley has lost the latest round of a libel battle with a political blogger and Jeremy Corbyn supporter over an article which alleged that she engaged in a “campaign of online abuse and harassment” against a teenager on Twitter.

“Serial abuser”?

Riley, 35, the numbers expert on the Channel 4 show Countdown, sued Mike Sivier after he published an article on his website Vox Political in January 2019 with the headline Serial abuser Rachel Riley to receive ‘extra protection’ – on grounds that she is receiving abuse.

Sivier defended what he had published, arguing that it was “substantially true”, honest opinion, and a matter of public interest. A High Court judge had ruled in favour of Riley and struck out Sivier’s defences. Justice Collins Rice concluded that he had “no prospect” of succeeding at a trial.

On 14 May, Sivier won an appeal.

Public interest

Three Court of Appeal judges ruled that Sivier’s public interest defence should be assessed at a trial. Appeal judge lord justice Warby said in a written ruling:

I would allow the appeal. I would set aside the order striking out the defence of publication on matter of public interest.

He added:

In my view, the appropriate course is for the public interest defence to be assessed at a trial.

The two other appeal judges, lord justice Henderson and Victoria Sharp, said they agreed.

Legal battles

Riley is waiting to hear whether she has won a separate damages fight after suing a former aide to Jeremy Corbyn for libel. She sued Laura Murray, 32, over a tweet posted two years ago.

A High Court judge finished overseeing a three-day trial at the High Court in London earlier this week. Justice Nicklin is expected to publish a ruling in the near future.