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Ex-Tory treasurer Cruddas wins £180,000 libel damages Ex-Tory treasurer Cruddas wins £180,000 libel damages
(35 minutes later)
Former Conservative co-treasurer Peter Cruddas has won £180,000 libel damages over Sunday Times allegations about charging to meet David Cameron.Former Conservative co-treasurer Peter Cruddas has won £180,000 libel damages over Sunday Times allegations about charging to meet David Cameron.
The High Court in London also ordered the newspaper to pay £500,000 in costs.The High Court in London also ordered the newspaper to pay £500,000 in costs.
The businessman, 59, complained that the articles in March last year suggested he had corruptly offered the chance to gain unfair advantage through secret meetings with the PM.The businessman, 59, complained that the articles in March last year suggested he had corruptly offered the chance to gain unfair advantage through secret meetings with the PM.
Mr Cruddas, who resigned after the reports, called them "malicious". The Sunday Times said it was "dismayed" and would appeal against the judgement.
He said his actual legal costs had been about £1m, and the Sunday Times would have to "pay most of that". Standing outside the High Court, Mr Cruddas said his actual legal costs had been about £1m, and the newspaper would have to "pay most of that".
'Reputation cleared''Reputation cleared'
Mr Cruddas, standing outside the High Court, also criticised the Tory leadership, saying: "The fact remains that, when the story broke, the behaviour of the Conservative Party made the whole thing a lot worse. He also criticised the Tory leadership, saying: "The fact remains that, when the story broke, the behaviour of the Conservative Party made the whole thing a lot worse.
"The fact that Mr [David] Cameron said it was quite right I resigned [when] he didn't have my side of the story.""The fact that Mr [David] Cameron said it was quite right I resigned [when] he didn't have my side of the story."
He added: "The Conservative Party, by not giving me support... and lining up to criticise me in public, made the situation a lot worse."He added: "The Conservative Party, by not giving me support... and lining up to criticise me in public, made the situation a lot worse."
Mr Cruddas also said: "What matters to me and my family is that my reputation is cleared."Mr Cruddas also said: "What matters to me and my family is that my reputation is cleared."
In its report, the Sunday Times alleged that Mr Cruddas had suggested that major financial donors could get access to Mr Cameron, including attending meetings in No 10.In its report, the Sunday Times alleged that Mr Cruddas had suggested that major financial donors could get access to Mr Cameron, including attending meetings in No 10.
Labour said the "dinners for donors" revelations suggested the Conservatives were in hoc to big business and the Conservatives launched an investigation into internal party funding procedures, which has yet to report. Labour said the "dinners for donors" revelations suggested big business was steering the Tories and the Conservatives launched an investigation into internal party funding procedures, which has yet to report.
Mr Cruddas said that his "good name had been restored".Mr Cruddas said that his "good name had been restored".
"My world was turned upside down when that article was published," he said."My world was turned upside down when that article was published," he said.
"I remember vividly having to walk into my offices the day after the article was published and face 500 of my staff, many of whom had a clip of the Sunday Times interview on their video screens. It was humiliating."I remember vividly having to walk into my offices the day after the article was published and face 500 of my staff, many of whom had a clip of the Sunday Times interview on their video screens. It was humiliating.
"The Conservative Party cut me off within two hours of the story breaking and did not want to hear my side of the story."The Conservative Party cut me off within two hours of the story breaking and did not want to hear my side of the story.
"I was constructively dismissed from my role as party treasurer and made to feel like an outcast as the prime minister and the party lined up to criticise me on television and radio."I was constructively dismissed from my role as party treasurer and made to feel like an outcast as the prime minister and the party lined up to criticise me on television and radio.
"This hurt me immensely and further damaged my reputation.""This hurt me immensely and further damaged my reputation."
'Right outcome'
In the court ruling, Mr Justice Tugendhat said Mr Cruddas had "endured public humiliation from the prime minister".In the court ruling, Mr Justice Tugendhat said Mr Cruddas had "endured public humiliation from the prime minister".
The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Cruddas's comments were a "very personal attack" on Mr Cameron. Conservative chairman Grant Shapps repeatedly refused to apologise on behalf of the party for the way Mr Cruddas had been treated.
A Conservative Party spokesman said it was pleased Mr Cruddas had won the case and had "put this matter to rest". He said: "I think Peter Cruddas did exactly the right thing. He has pursued this through the courts and got the outcome that he wanted, the right outcome as well, and good luck to him.
"He was right to take the steps he has in order to put beyond doubt any question of impropriety. We are very appreciative of everything Peter has done for the party." "He has got the right to that and it's good that he did."
Asked whether there was a need for the Conservatives and Mr Cameron to say sorry, Mr Shapps said: "I don't really think it's a question of that, I think it's a question of congratulating Peter Cruddas for managing to pursue this and get the right outcome."
Mr Cruddas, who before becoming treasurer was one of the party's leading donors, also succeeded in his claim for malicious falsehood against the newspaper but no separate damages award was made in respect of that today.Mr Cruddas, who before becoming treasurer was one of the party's leading donors, also succeeded in his claim for malicious falsehood against the newspaper but no separate damages award was made in respect of that today.
A spokesman for the newspaper said: "The Sunday Times is dismayed to have lost this case. This was an investigation into a matter of considerable public interest and the newspaper believed that use of undercover methods was justified.
"The Insight team conducted the investigation with the supervision and full backing of the senior editorial team and the advice of the newspaper's lawyers. The Sunday Times and its journalists intend to appeal the judgement of Mr Justice Tugendhat."
The Electoral Commission dismissed calls for an inquiry into the allegations last year, stating that there was no evidence that the law on donations had been breached.The Electoral Commission dismissed calls for an inquiry into the allegations last year, stating that there was no evidence that the law on donations had been breached.