Sir Cliff’s right to sue but taxpayer will foot the bill
Although it’s right that Cliff Richard is to sue South Yorkshire Police and the BBC for the live broadcast of the raid on his home, as you reported last week, it won’t bring him or the general public justice. Because, in both cases, it will be the taxpayer who foots the bill.
Real justice would be served if Sir Cliff was to receive £1million or more in damages – and that money was paid by the individual police and BBC staff responsible for the coverage. This money should be taken from their salaries and pensions – as well as from the unnamed claimant whose allegations of historic sexual abuse were dismissed by prosecutors.
Roy Daniels, Luton, Bedfordshire
Although ‘Sir Cliff sues BBC for £1m’ did make a good headline for you last week, I think it should have been stated that, in reality, the taxpayer is being sued. Should not the individuals who were involved in the matter be made to pay instead of the public?
James Johnson, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
The BBC had no right to film the raid on Cliff’s home and he is perfectly within his rights to seek damages. He is still performing and producing his lucrative calendars, and the attentions of the BBC will have reduced sales.
Much as I agree that stars who may have abused their power in their heyday should be brought to book, we should not allow witch-hunts, in which guilt is immediately assumed.
Louise Roberts, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Last week, you reported on two well-known people suing media organisations: Sir Cliff Richard and Sarah Ferguson. While he is suing the BBC, she is to launch legal proceedings against the owners of the now defunct News of the World for publishing footage of her apparently offering access to Prince Andrew for cash.
Best wishes to Sir Cliff – the coverage of his arrest was appalling. But as for Sarah Ferguson, she and her ex-husband are two of the reasons I feel that the Queen should be the last Monarch. I’d like to write more about what I think of her, but then she’d probably attempt to sue me.
Stephen Birds, Bury
Good luck to Sir Cliff Richard. He has endured 22 months of living hell. D. F. Courtney, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset