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[[File:Daily Mail - Enemies of the People.png|thumb|Front cover of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', 4 November 2016]] |
[[File:Daily Mail - Enemies of the People.png|thumb|Front cover of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'', 4 November 2016]] |
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'''"Enemies of the People"''' was the [[headline]] to an article by political editor [[James Slack]] published in the British newspaper ''[[The Daily Mail]]'' on 4 November 2016.<ref name=guardian/> |
'''"Enemies of the People"''' was the [[headline]] to an article by political editor [[James Slack]]]{{Not in citation|date=February 2017}} published in the British newspaper ''[[The Daily Mail]]'' on 4 November 2016.<ref name=guardian/> |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Revision as of 15:06, 10 February 2017
"Enemies of the People" was the headline to an article by political editor James Slack][failed verification] published in the British newspaper The Daily Mail on 4 November 2016.[1]
Background
The headline, approved by editor Paul Dacre,[2] was in response to the ruling of the High Court of England and Wales in the Miller case that the government would need to gain the consent of Parliament before it could trigger Article 50 and exit the European Union (EU). The government had intended to use royal prerogative to invoke Article 50 directly after a referendum in June 2016 had resulted in a majority vote to leave the EU.[1]
The newspaper claimed the court's decision was a deliberate action to block the Brexit process and ran the story and headline featuring the three high court judges - the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton, and Lord Justice Sales - with character assassinations of each.[3][4]
Online version
The Mail's website also initially described Etherton as an "openly-gay ex-Olympic fencer",[5] but - following criticism on social media - this was soon changed.[6][7]
Aftermath
The Independent Press Standards Organisation received over 1,000 complaints about the piece, claiming it violated numerous Codes of Conduct, including inaccuracy, harassment and discrimination.[3] The judgement summary from the High Court ruling stated that the judiciary was independent from the government, could not offer any personal opinion on Brexit, and was merely advising the government about the correct legal process to trigger Article 50.[8] A Business Insider report strongly criticised the story as being "distorted" and could be construed as an attempt to harm the reputation and safety of the judges.[9] The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines said the public should be "very alarmed" over the Daily Mail piece.[3]
The chairwoman of the Bar Council, Chantal-Aimee Doerries QC,[10] stated that the Secretary of State for Justice, Liz Truss should have clearly defended the judiciary and condemn the attacks made by the Daily Mail and similar stories in the newspapers Daily Express and The Sun. Truss' brief response was seen as inadequate. Former Conservative minister Anna Soubry said that Truss "has a duty to condemn the vilification, including a homophobic attack, of our judiciary."[11]
The government appealed against the High Court decision. In January 2017, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of consulting Parliament.[12] To help defend the judges against the Daily Mail piece, the Bar Council launched a scheme to teach secondary school children about the importance and impartiality of the British judiciary system.[13][14]
References
- ^ a b "British newspapers react to judges' Brexit ruling: 'Enemies of the people'". The Guardian. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ Fay, Stephen (March 2017). "Moralist, monarchist and Brexiteer-in-chief". The Oldie: 34.
- ^ a b c "Daily Mail's 'Enemies of the People' front page receives more than 1,000 complaints to IPSO". The Independent. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Is Donald Trump 'Mr. Brexit'?". The New York Times. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ Duffy, Nick (3 November 2016). "The Daily Mail is very upset because an 'openly gay judge' ruled on Brexit". PinkNews. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ Nelson, Sara C (3 November 2016). "MailOnline Attacks Brexit Judge For Being 'Openly Gay'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ Blair, Olivia (4 November 2016). "J.K. Rowling responds perfectly to Mail Online headline referencing judges's sexuality after Brexit High Court ruling". The Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "Brexit: Those judges aren't 'enemies of the people', they are upholding British law". International Business Times. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "People are furious at the Daily Mail front page branding the Article 50 judges 'Enemies of the People'". Business Insider. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Brexit ruling: Lord Chancellor backs judiciary amid row". BBC News. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Brexit: lawyers confront Liz Truss over 'dangerous' abuse of judges". The Guardian. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Brexit: Supreme Court says Parliament must give Article 50 go-ahead". BBC News. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Barristers Launch Campaign To Teach Teens About Brexit After Being Branded 'Enemies Of The People'". The Huffington Post. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Barristers launch PR drive in schools to explain why judges are not the 'enemies of the people'". The Daily Telegraph. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.