Councillor Ian Lavery versus Mr James Alan Thompson. The Royal Courts of Justice. London.
As stated previously, the Wansbeck District Council elections of 1999 was a political earthquake for the Labour Party who lost 21 of their 46 seats on Wansbeck District Council. Most of the 21 newly elected Lib Dem Councillors had no experience of being a Councillor and they did not have to wait long before the Labour Party applied their scare tactics. Each Lib Dem Councillor was targeted and usually threatened with a demand to appear before a ‘Standards Committee’ which comprised of all Labour Councillors.
January 2001
My turn came in January 2001 after I was contacted by a Journalist working for the ‘Journal’ Newspaper. His name was Dave Black. He told me that Councillor Ian Lavery, Chairman of the Cabinet Committee, had phoned him to get an article in the paper denouncing a Lib Dem Councillor who refused to appear before a Standards Committee.
My comment to the Journal article resulted in Browell Smith, who were Solicitors acting on behalf of Councillor Lavery sending me a letter accusing me of Libel. I knew I had told the truth, so, I treated the letter as a ruse to scare me. I simply acknowledged receipt of the letter without explanation and expected that to be the end of it.
Following on…
To my surprise I received another letter from Councillor Lavery’s Solicitors saying that I should apologise and accept the allegation of Libel. A sum of £5,000.00 to compensate Councillor Lavery was mentioned. I simply acknowledged receipt of the letter. So, I expected that to be the end of the matter. This went on for several months and in the summer of 2001, I received a summons to appear before a ‘Master in Chambers’ at the ‘Royal Courts of Justice in London’.
Royal Courts of Justice in London
This was serious stuff. Without any Legal representation I duly attended the Royal Courts as instructed. I was directed to sit on a bench in a corridor and wait. After a while a very smart middle-aged lady wearing a pin striped suit sat on a bench on the other side of the corridor. Another lady appeared and ushered the two of us into a large room with a large desk behind which sat the ‘Master in Chambers’.
The lady in the suit turned out to be a London Solicitor engaged by Councillor Lavery’s Solicitors to represent Councillor Lavery. It was an unnerving experience since I had never before been in a courtroom. This was bizarre; there was me, Councillor Lavery’s Solicitor and the Master. The Master had a booming voice and he asked the Lady to explain her case for Councillor Lavery; which she did. In a booming voice he asked me to explain my position which I duly did. The Master then asked the Lady “How do you respond”. The Lady hesitated and again the Master asked her to respond. She did but it was obvious that the Master was not impressed.
The Master then turned to me and said in a booming voice; “Mr Thompson. How much did it cost you to come here from Northumberland? I hesitated and he said again impatiently; “How much did it cost you”? I said “About £110.00 Master!. The Master said to the Lady representing Councillor Lavery; “Pay Mr Thompson £110.00! Now! Case dismissed! The Lady was obviously put out. Presumably she still collected a substantial fee.
What happened next?
I left the Royal Courts mightily relieved and made my way to Kings Cross to get the train home. I entered the restaurant carriage and enjoyed a three-course meal. As the train headed for Newcastle I was pleased with the feeling that justice was done.
However; my satisfaction was short lived. Browell Smith appealed on behalf of Councillor Lavery and the appeal was granted. This meant that I had to attend a ‘hearing’ in London at the Royal Courts of Justice with a Judge and a Jury of twelve people. The date for the hearing was set for 4th July 2002. The prospect was harrowing.
I thought this was intimidation on the grand scale.
Events as recalled by James Alan Thompson. 4th December 2019.
The story to be continued in The Politics of Wrath 4.
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