Philippa Stroud – a correction


8:55 am - May 6th 2010

by Unity    


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Over the last few days, a sizeable number of articles have been published about Conservative Party candidate, Philippa Stroud, which contain a  error of material fact.

As Ms Stroud has, seen fit, through her lawyers, to contact a number of media organisations and invoke the provisions of s106 of the Representation of the People Act, under which it an offence to knowingly publish an untrue statement about the character or conduct of a parliamentary candidate during an election period, we feel compelled to issue the following correction on behalf of the blogosphere.

It has been suggested, by numerous sources, that in 1999, Ms Stroud ‘wrote’ a book entitled ‘God’s Heart for the Poor’ in which she allegedly explains how to deal with people showing signs of ‘demonic possession’.

Further inquiries indicate that although Ms Stroud is, indeed, listed as one of two co-authors by Amazon, this is, in fact, incorrect, as indicated by the following statement, which appears on the personal website of the books’ other listed author, Christine Leonard:

God’s Heart for the Poor, ghosted biography/how to for Philippa Stroud. Kingsway, Aug 1999 Out of print

It would appear, therefore, that Ms Stroud ‘wrote’ this particular book only in the same sense that Wayne Rooney is the ‘author’ of an ‘autobiography’ and Katie Price is a successful ‘novelist’; and so, on behalf of the blogosphere, we unreservedly withdraw the claim that Ms Stroud is a published author.

Any further correspondance on this matter will, as matter of course, be referred to the response provided to the plaintiff in the case of Arkell vs Pressdram.

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About the author
'Unity' is a regular contributor to Liberal Conspiracy. He also blogs at Ministry of Truth.
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Story Filed Under: Blog ,Elections2010 ,Humour ,Media ,Religion

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Reader comments


1. Rob

And in the same sense as Danny Dyer suggested slashing a woman’s face.

2. Shatterface

She will, of course, be handing back any royalties she may have been given by mistake.

3. Flowerpower

So, a social worker’s personal memoir was ghostwritten. The book’s probably quite well written then. Unlike Gordon’s book on courage.

4. Mr S. Pill

Is there a connection ‘twixt ghost writers and demonic possession? I think we should be told.

5. sally

So she now wants to distance herself from a book she was happy to take royalties from?

Sounds like the usual double talk off Daves Conservatives to me.

6. Yakoub

Is Ms Stroud a Christian or a snake?

7. Gwyn

It’s Arkell v Pressdram. Not vs. If you’re going to make litigation jokes, at least get them right!

8. Auntie Doris

How fascinating because if I recall correctly she has spoken at several seminars and conferences and has been listed as the author of this book!

9. Eutychus

The above link is to a scanned copy of the cover page of my edition of the book. Philippa is identified as a co-author, asserts her right to be identified as an author of the work and dedicates the book to David Stroud.

10. Just Visiting

Well sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

Front page of Google UK news page tonight:

“A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God. ”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html

+
| Free speech RIP.

11. sally

10 No doubt that will become legal under dave.

12. rantersparadise

Wow, just wow.

13. Bob B

Well, Phillipa Stroud didn’t make it to Parliament for Sutton and Cheam. The previous LibDem MP was returned, albeit with a smaller majority.

Not only that but the knock-on effect of the General Election on the elections to the local Sutton borough council is that the LibDems made a net gain of 11 seats, with 43 councillors elected (previously 42), while the Conservatives have made a net loss of 9 seats, with 11 elected. Other parties now have no seats on the council, making a net loss of 2.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/council/html/3919.stm

The Conservatives didn’t gain the other Parliamentary seat in Sutton either – in fact, in that seat, there was a net swing in votes from the Conservatives to the LibDems.

If prudence prevails in the local Conservative constituency associations, they will need to reflect both on their selection of candidates as well as their campaigns.

14. sally

The people of Sutton and Cheam are to be congratulated in rejecting someone who did not know if she wrote a book or not.

15. Bob B

“The people of Sutton and Cheam are to be congratulated in rejecting someone who did not know if she wrote a book or not.”

But it’s not just that. The results for the Conservatives in the local council elections are dire and they were making a serious bid for control of the council this time round.

There’s no point in my going here into the past history of their previous selections for local Parliamentary candidates but that history is not encouraging for voters and I can report that having spoken with local people who are not strongly partisan in their political sentiments and incline to be sceptical about politicians generally.

Correction with due apologies to read: “Not only that but the knock-on effect of the General Election on the elections to the local Sutton borough council is that the LibDems made a net gain of 11 seats, with 43 councillors elected (previously 32), while the Conservatives have made a net loss of 9 seats, with 11 elected.”

16. Madeup

@10 what has your post got to do with the topic of this thread?

Also, what do you think should have been done to the “christian street preacher”? What if he’d been a Muslim “street preacher”? What if he’d been a BNP canvasser? Do you only favour protection of the right to voice prejudice when the prejudice in question coincides with your own or would you extend it to other groups of intellectually challenged hate mongers as well?

5 questions there, see if you can actually answer any of them.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Unity

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  2. Chris Paul

    RT @Unity_MoT: RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  3. Stuart Harrison

    Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE /via @libcon <-Arkell vs. Pressdram – my favourite legal citation

  4. Jared Ficklin

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  5. Dirk vom Lehn

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  6. Alasdair Pettinger

    Splendid: Philippa Stroud – a correction (Liberal Conspiracy): http://bit.ly/d3Z28D

  7. Richard Reeves

    Liberal Conspiracy » Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/bFNQzc

  8. Crafty Jess

    So is she going to disclose if she got any cash from the book? RT @RufusHound RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  9. Juke de Haan

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/c1AeiP

  10. RooftopJaxx

    Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/aVPhsP #PhilippaStroud

  11. Miche Doherty

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  12. Heavy Light

    RT @CathElliott: RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/c1AeiP

  13. Tony Kennick

    My favourite legal phrase is "We refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram" and variants http://bit.ly/bDu8tl

  14. mjrobbins

    RT @dontgetfooled Oh dear – @Libcon forced to issue correction over #philippastroud coverage http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  15. Ellie Banwell

    RT @dontgetfooled: Oh dear -@Libcon forced to issue correction over #philippastroud coverage: http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  16. Gareth Winchester

    RT @libcon #PhilippaStroud – a correction http://bit.ly/azFvOK

  17. MovingToMontana

    RT @dnotice: RT @libcon #PhilippaStroud – a correction http://bit.ly/azFvOK

  18. davidgerard

    RT @thegreatgonzo: My favourite legal phrase is "We refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram" and variants http://bit.ly/bDu8tl

  19. Bob McToot

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  20. Ben Clarke

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE – Very clever 😉

  21. Sean

    RT @thegreatgonzo: My favourite legal phrase is "We refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram" and variants http://bit.ly/bDu8tl

  22. Soho Politico

    Spooky #PhilippaStroud's book on exorcising demons was ghost written. http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  23. Liberal Conspiracy

    Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  24. Max

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  25. johnhalton

    Ah, good old Arkell v Pressdram. Good to see @libcon give this leading English libel case an airing: http://bit.ly/9M9M1a

  26. Grace F-H

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  27. Nikki Butler

    RT @msgracefh: RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  28. robert marshall

    ? @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE 🙂

  29. Rufus Hound

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  30. Matt Searle

    RT @libcon Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  31. Sarah Moore

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  32. Derek Bryant

    RT @libcon Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  33. Dan Watts

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE

  34. Brownhills Bob

    RT @pezholio: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE <-Arkell vs. Pressdram – my favourite legal citation << game on!

  35. Martin Warne

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE < good to see the blogosphere acting in a grown-up & responsible manner

  36. grovesmedia

    RT @pezholio: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE /via @libcon <-Arkell vs. Pressdram – my favourite legal citation

  37. Alex Wilcock

    RT @SohoPolitico: Spooky #PhilippaStroud's book on exorcising demons was ghost written. http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  38. clarefarrell

    RT @libcon Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/azFvOK #imnotvotingconservative

  39. CathElliott

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/c1AeiP

  40. Paul Nezandonyi

    RT @SohoPolitico: Spooky #PhilippaStroud's book on exorcising demons was ghost written. http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  41. Richard Wilson

    Oh dear -@Libcon forced to issue correction over #philippastroud coverage, considering Arkell vs Pressdram defence: http://bit.ly/aVPhsP ;o)

  42. Daniel Wagner-Hall

    RT @EllieBanwell: RT @dontgetfooled: Oh dear -@Libcon forced to issue correction over #philippastroud coverage: http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  43. Stuart Brown

    .@libcon’s correction concerning #philippastroud, who they scurrilously claimed to be a published author: http://bit.ly/aVPhsP.

  44. superbrutal

    RT @SohoPolitico: Spooky #PhilippaStroud's book on exorcising demons was ghost written. http://bit.ly/aVPhsP

  45. Graham Binns

    RT @libcon: Philippa Stroud – a correction http://bit.ly/cS6SqE <– cites Arkell v Pressdram; always a winner. #fb





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