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THE SUN was forced to print an “apology” yesterday after press regulator Ipso agreed with a complaint that a front-page story on Jeremy Corbyn was “significantly misleading.”
Media baron Rupert Murdoch’s rag reported that the then newly elected Labour leader was only going to become a member of the Privy Council to get hold of £6.2 million in Short money, an annual payment to opposition parties to help with costs.
The complainant, former journalist Rosemary Brocklehurst, told the Independent Press Standards Organisation that there was “no basis” for the claim and that the story published in September breached the Press Code of Conduct accuracy clause.
Ms Brocklehurst also flagged up the digitally produced image showing Mr Corbyn wearing a jester’s hat next to the headlines “Court Jezter” and “Labour hypocrite: Leftie who hates the Royals WILL kiss Queen’s hand to grab £6.2m.”
She said that there was neither evidence to support the slur that Mr Corbyn “hates the royals” nor the claim that he might trigger a “constitutional crisis” if he declined council membership.
Yesterday’s paper contained a minuscule “apology” on its front page, reading: “Ipso complaint on Labour Short money upheld, see page two.”
On page two, it claimed that the journalists “could have been clearer” that their story was speculation allegedly “based on facts.”
It admitted that receiving Short funds and being a member of the council were “not formally connected.”
Campaign for Press and Broadcast Freedom national organiser Barry White told the Star that, although he welcomes the ruling, the “apology” should be as visible as the original story.
He said: “That’s the outrageous thing about it, it’s tucked away and obscured. It doesn’t make the same impact and I think that is wrong.
“It should almost be of equal prominence.”
Mr Murdoch’s papers are some of Ipso’s main funders, and its ruling sparked comment on social media that the watchdog was coming of age and “baring some teeth.”
But the paper has left the original story and picture on its website, saying it did not “apologise” and that it is “entitled” to write the story as it did.
A Sun spokesman said: “Contrary to what other publications not signed up to the press regulator are reporting, we have not printed an apology or a correction.”
Mr White said that newspaper groups owned by billionaires should be broken up to minimise “mudslinging and abuse,” as Mr Corbyn has suggested.
