Legal legend Davidson dies aged 89
ARTHUR DAVIDSON, a legal legend of Fleet Street, champion of the press and formidable politician, has died after a short illness aged 89.
As well as providing counsel to the great and the good in sport and politics, he was also a fierce defender of all battling for justice.
Born in Liverpool in 1928, the lifelong Liverpool FC fan shone at Trinity College, Cambridge, achieving an athletics Blue. He was Labour MP for Accrington from 1966 to 1983, a minister in the Attorney General’s department from 1974 to 1979 and shadow attorney general under Michael Foot.
He raised Commons questions aimed at amending the defamation law, arguing it was so technical, cases should be decided by a lone judge.
Mr Davidson also sought to amend the contempt law, saying: “What I ask for is not a licence for the press, but that the press and the broadcasting authorities should be able to carry out their duties of exposing, criticising and probing more efficiently... without in any way justice suffering.”
After working as legal director for the Daily Mail from 1987-1990, he was a consultant for Express Newspapers. He became a QC in 1978, with clients including footballers Kenny Dalglish and Alan Shearer and boxer Frank Bruno.
Mr Davidson leaves a son, a daughter and a granddaughter.