The publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), recently won a case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This ruling comes despite the newspaper’s frequent calls for Britain to leave the ECHR. Just last month, the Daily Mail backed Boris Johnson’s arguments for a referendum on the UK’s ECHR membership.
Claim of Unfair Legal Fees
ANL claimed that its own human rights were violated by having to pay “success fees” to lawyers representing plaintiffs awarded damages from the newspaper. Success fees are additional payments required under no-win, no-fee agreements. The publisher argued that these fees infringed on its freedom of expression, protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Court Sides with Associated Newspapers Ltd
The ECHR ruled in favour of ANL, ordering the UK government to cover €15,000 (£12,450) in costs and expenses within three months. Additionally, ANL had sought nearly £320,000 in damages, arguing this amount represented the total paid in success fees. The court has reserved judgment on this claim, inviting further submissions from both parties within six months.
You may also like: WATCH: Starmer mocks Farage’s frequent US trips in PMQs
