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Mail on Sunday 'sorry' for gatecrashing Miliband family memorial service Mail on Sunday 'sorry' for gatecrashing Miliband family memorial service
(35 minutes later)
The Mail on Sunday has apologised "unreservedly" to Ed Miliband for a reporter intruding into a private memorial service for a relative of the Labour leader. The Mail on Sunday has apologised unreservedly to Ed Miliband after one of its reporters intruded on a private memorial service for a relative of the Labour leader.
The apology came after Miliband wrote to the proprietor of the Mail on Sunday, Lord Rothermere, asking whether the common line of decency had been breached by the reporter gatecrashing a memorial service for his uncle. The apology from the newspaper's editor, Geordie Greig, came after Miliband wrote to the proprietor, Lord Rothermere, asking whether the common line of decency had been breached by the reporter gatecrashing the service for his uncle on Wednesday.
The paper's editor, Geordie Greig, promised a full investigation, saying it had been a "terrible lapse of judgment" and two journalists on the paper had been suspended. The apology was issued after apparently confusing signals from Greig. It is understood that Greig indicated to the Labour party on Wednesday night that he was prepared to issue an apology. But in a conversation with Miliband on Thursday morning an apology was not forthcoming.
"I unreservedly apologise for a reporter intruding into a private memorial service for a relative of Ed Miliband," he said. There was speculation that Greig may have changed his stance under pressure from Paul Dacre, the editor-in-chief of the Mail titles. The Labour leader published his letter to Rothermere at around 11.45am on Thursday, prompting the apology.
"The reporter was sent without my knowledge; it was a decision which was wrong. Two journalists have been suspended and a full investigation is now being carried out. In his statement, Greig promised a full investigation, saying it had been a "terrible lapse of judgment" and two journalists on the paper had been suspended.
"I unreservedly apologise for a reporter intruding into a private memorial service for a relative of Ed Miliband," he said. "The reporter was sent without my knowledge; it was a decision which was wrong. Two journalists have been suspended and a full investigation is now being carried out.
"I would further like to apologise to members of the family and friends attending the service for this deplorable intrusion. I have already spoken personally to Ed Miliband and expressed my regret that such a terrible lapse of judgment should have taken place."I would further like to apologise to members of the family and friends attending the service for this deplorable intrusion. I have already spoken personally to Ed Miliband and expressed my regret that such a terrible lapse of judgment should have taken place.
"It is completely contrary to the values and editorial standards of the Mail on Sunday. I understand that Lord Rothermere is personally writing to Ed Miliband.""It is completely contrary to the values and editorial standards of the Mail on Sunday. I understand that Lord Rothermere is personally writing to Ed Miliband."
Miliband, locked in a row with the Daily Mail over a claim his father hated Britain, spoke at the memorial service on Wednesday. Miliband, locked in a row with the Daily Mail over a claim his father hated Britain, spoke at the memorial service held at Guy's hospital in London for his uncle, Professor Harry Keen, a distinguished doctor who died earlier this year.
His letter represents a sharp escalation in the row between the Labour leader and the Mail group. He urges Rothermere to conduct an investigation into who was responsible for the latest episode and "who is responsible for the culture and practices of these newspapers which jar so badly with the values of your readers". His letter represents a sharp escalation in the row between Miliband and the Mail group. In it he urges Rothermere to conduct an investigation into who was responsible for the latest episode and "who is responsible for the culture and practices of these newspapers which jar so badly with the values of your readers".
He wrote in his letter that he spoke at the service held at Guy's hospital in London for his uncle, Professor Harry Keen, a distinguished doctor who died earlier this year. He wrote: "It was an event in a room on the 29th floor of Guy's hospital which was attended only by family members, close friends and colleagues. I was told by one of my relatives late yesterday evening that a reporter from the Mail on Sunday had found her way into the event uninvited. I also discovered that, once there, she approached members of my family seeking comments on the controversy over the Daily Mail's description of my late father as someone who 'hated Britain'.
"It was an event in a room on the 29th floor of Guy's hospital which was attended only by family members, close friends and colleagues," he wrote. "I was told by one of my relatives late yesterday evening that a reporter from the Mail on Sunday had found her way into the event uninvited. I also discovered that, once there, she approached members of my family seeking comments on the controversy over the Daily Mail's description of my late father as someone who 'hated Britain'. "My wider family, who are not in public life, feel understandably appalled and shocked that this can have happened."
"My wider family, who are not in public life, feel understandably appalled and shocked that this can have happened. He said the Mail on Sunday's editor had since confirmed that a journalist had attended the memorial with the intention of seeking information for publication in the weekend's paper.
"The editor of the Mail on Sunday has since confirmed to my office that a journalist from his newspaper did indeed attend the memorial uninvited with the intention of seeking information for publication this weekend. "Sending a reporter to my late uncle's memorial crosses a line of common decency," Miliband wrote. "I believe it a symptom of the culture and practices of both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. There are many decent people working at those newspapers and I know that many of them will be disgusted by this latest episode. But they will also recognise that what has happened to my family has happened to many others.
"Sending a reporter to my late uncle's memorial crosses a line of common decency. I believe it a symptom of the culture and practices of both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. There are many decent people working at those newspapers and I know that many of them will be disgusted by this latest episode. But they will also recognise that what has happened to my family has happened to many others.
"I believe no purpose would be served by me complaining to the Press Complaints Commission because it is widely discredited. Instead, I am writing to you as the owners of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday because I believe it is long overdue that you reflect on the culture of your newspapers.""I believe no purpose would be served by me complaining to the Press Complaints Commission because it is widely discredited. Instead, I am writing to you as the owners of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday because I believe it is long overdue that you reflect on the culture of your newspapers."
Miliband called for an investigation, saying: "There are bigger issues for the people of Britain in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis for a century than intrusion into the life of my family. But the reaction of many people to the Daily Mail's attacks on my father this week demonstrates that the way your newspapers have behaved does not reflect the real character of our country. It is now your responsibility to respond."Miliband called for an investigation, saying: "There are bigger issues for the people of Britain in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis for a century than intrusion into the life of my family. But the reaction of many people to the Daily Mail's attacks on my father this week demonstrates that the way your newspapers have behaved does not reflect the real character of our country. It is now your responsibility to respond."
Labour sources insisted the main service was a private event and it is understood the reporter learned about the service from somebody's Facebook page. Labour sources insisted the main service was a private event and it is understood the reporter learned about it from someone's Facebook page.
The reporter at one point held the hand of one of the grieving relatives and then twice asked her to comment on Ralph Miliband, the source said. She refused to do so. At one point the reporter held the hand of one of the grieving relatives and then twice asked her to comment on Ralph Miliband, the source said. The relative refused to do so.
The source said that Geordie Greig, the Mail on Sunday's editor, confirmed the reporter had been sent by the newspaper's executives and on Wednesday evening was deeply apologetic. However his attitude appears to have changed overnight, following internal discussions at the paper. Greig confirmed the reporter had been sent by the newspaper's executives and on Wednesday evening was deeply apologetic to the Labour party.
Labour sources are also suggesting that this was not a battle about newspaper regulation, but a fight to change the culture and practices at some newspapers. Labour sources are suggesting the issue is not a battle about newspaper regulation, but a fight to change the culture and practices at some newspapers.
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