Inside the three-year courtroom battle between a Tory donor and former MP

[@jerrysmith2360]

I don’t know Charlotte Leslie’s attitudes, but I do find it ironic that an ex-Tory MP is complaining about how the rich have so much power and wealth and how they can ride roughshod over those who are not as wealthy. If only she had friends who could change the whole of society for the better.

[@Michael-yq2ut]

Well said

[@jw25782]

Precisely what I thought too. Followed by a deep inability to care about two Tories at loggerheads 😂

[@stephenholmes1036]

Labour were no better, all 4 English parties of the establishment for the establishment

[@Michael-yq2ut]

@@stephenholmes1036 yes but until we get true democracy we will have to try our best with what we have, although I won't be voting for labour in the next election, that said if their manifesto had PR as the only thing they wanted to do I might change my mind.

[@DeniseWilliams-jr5xo]

It's laughable the Tories have been flaunting their wealth and the enormous power it gives them for decades. Yet now somebody else with enormous wealth and using it to get at them is terrible. I can't help but think this is a definite case of people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

[@paulinskipukprogressive4903]

well done for challenging this entitled man of privilege C4

[@iandhr1]

Victims of SLAPP suits should get their legal costs reimbursed.

[@PCDelorian]

They do in English Law, but by the time you get the costs ordered you're years into it and since legal aid doesn't extend to defamation many will concede long before that and the stress and risk act as a chilling effect.

[@TBrl8]

Rich people think they can push anyone around. It’s a real issue with capitalism.

[@noelfleming3567]

👍👏👏

[@LWQ15881]

@@lunaxquinntruth

[@markrhoden68]

What amazes me is he thinks this interview regarding this court case has improved his personal image. He comes across as a complete git then complained that this woman damaged his character, he's done that all by himself 😂

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

@@markrhoden68 He is a man standing up for himself. It's what men do. They do not allow women to cheat them. Only a wimp would do that.

[@redcaoimh3127]

Pre-dates capitalism. Feudalism was worse.

[@MrMusicbyMartin]

Conservative politician: “I am now acutely aware of the damage people can do when they have unlimited funds”. And yet she’s still a Tory . . . . . Thankfully, we still have fully-funded legal aid in the UK to provide legal help to people of limited means . . . . Oh, hang on . . . .

[@thesmallerhalf1968]

The interview is very revealing. Amerci behaved much as he appears to have done over the original matter. I suspect this how he behaves in normal life. An utter conviction that he is always right, attempts to browbeat anyone who challenges him, and plays the victim at every chance.

[@Deepthought-42]

Make all political donations illegal and the problem would go away. Donations invite corruption, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[@johnwright9372]

Sort out media bias which obviate the need for donations.

[@markhayward7400]

Obscenely rich people who think they can do what they want only became a problem to this ex-Tory MP when she was a victim. The Tories have enabled these people. The legal case brought against her is her karma

[@therealrobertbirchall]

Morbidly rich I call them.

[@andrewjones-productions]

I think your opinion is misguided. She identified him as dubious, raised the alarm and did something to tackle it. If she had of not done anything, she would not have been a victim. She took on something she believed was wrong despite the advise of a Tory advisor and she went the long haul through the courts. This is one person who chose to fight for something she was wrong. You are right in saying that the Tories are the ones that have enabled these types of people, but Ms. Leslie is one that refused to do so.

[@gordonwilson1631]

@@andrewjones-productionsThe question that keeps coming round is why is she a Tory? She does not understand the nature of the beast.

[@SteveHodges-cn7ns]

I am amazed that the Tories havent given this guy a seat in the House of Lords, surely he paid enough?

[@climbtherainbow]

Three million Sterling is the going rate for a peerage....

[@grizcuz]

It's a pity the Tories weren't a bit more circumspect about the cash they've received from former Russians. Or installing the son of a former KGB officer in the House of Lords. Or the then foreign secretary going to one of his parties in Italy without his security detail. Only a month after the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Imagine the headlines if a Labour government had done all of this? We'd still be seeing headlines in some newspapers on a daily basis.

[@TBrl8]

Russia and Iran. Nothing to see here 🫠

[@alanbarker2279]

Surprised Amersi thought he could appear on Ch.4 News and come off looking good. I don't see any comments in his support...

[@ekZ11761]

I doubt he has the theory of mind to understand how anyone could fail to be persuaded by his blatant self-serving bullshit

[@Michael-yq2ut]

I'm sure she wouldn't have voted to defund the courts and restrct court access for the population

[@MrDesmondPot]

Noooooooo! A Tory would never seek to prevent equality of justice. Slander. Issue this person a SLAPP!

[@tt-ew7rx]

Almost always voted for restricting the scope of legal aid.

[@Michael-yq2ut]

@@tt-ew7rx I'm not shocked

[@neilmcclary]

the look on his face at the end of the interveiw said it all pricless , wel done on a great interveiw

[@belbrighton6479]

I would recommend the periodical Private Eye for more on this kind of Lawfare. And how Carter Ruck have for years behaved in this way.

[@stephenholmes1036]

As a Private Eye subscriber i agree !

[@Pikestnt]

👍

[@climbtherainbow]

Me too. The mag is even now being referred to in the House of Commons....@@stephenholmes1036

[@Pananananananananify]

"I was denied my 3 years in the sunshine." 🤣😂😭 Tells you everything. He is in for money and power, nothing else. All of these people don't give a flying f* about normal workers.

[@Vee-jc1qh]

Why would she raise her concerns with the Conservative Party when it receives £millions in donations? Nothing here would be the reply. As said by me many times, those with the largest pockets can buy themselves into and out of anything no matter the cost to those who endeavour to challenge them.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

Like the government-controlled post office.

[@stanthemafia]

He’s never been punched in the face

[@Jon-xw9om]

He's 63? He should be spending his money on doctors, not lawyers. He also comes over as very shifty.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

I think he was telling the truth and she was the dodgy one, e.g not declaring tens of thousands in bribes. He looked like a philanthropist to me. Some do it for the right reasons, like helping the starving poor etc. Don't assume dark things when you don't have the evidence.

[@Jon-xw9om]

@@Andrew-rc3vh Erm since when has donating vast amounts of money to the Tories count as 'helping the starving poor etc'? Really? Did you not bother watching? And what exactly is a philanthropist meant to look like to you? Are you actually claiming that you can spot a philanthropist at 50 paces? "He looked like a philanthropist to me" is a ridiculous claim to make. Don't assume enlightenment when the evidence points to the contrary..

[@colinmack8655]

@@Jon-xw9omhowever let’s not make a saint out of a sinner.

[@Jon-xw9om]

@@colinmack8655 ??

[@DevilbyMoonlight]

Respects to this lady, she is a rare one.

[@MrNewman457]

His own actions have done far more damage to his reputation than anyone else could in this case.

[@ao4514]

So true!

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Lobbying and large donations to any party should be stopped, finished end of. We can not allow this BS to continue.

[@TBrl8]

lol well the interview with that weasel at the end went well 😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheLiverpolitan]

We need a cap on political donations. A small cadre of millionaires keep the tory party afloat x

[@ilokivi]

Better still, change the law so that the only acceptable donations are those from UK citizens resident in the UK.

[@gordonwilson1631]

@@ilokiviThere is an official Conservatives Abroad organisation that helps anyone; ie anyone, abroad to register with a local Conservative Party branch in the UK and vote in leadership elections.

[@jerry2357]

I would make it so that political parties can only use subscriptions from their members for funding. There should be no donations from rich people, whether from the UK or not. Political parties should represent ordinary people, not the super-rich.

[@xyzzdoe3674]

Well done Amersi for going on TV and proving to everyone that you acted in bad faith and that you are a very dodgy person.

[@dr_dr]

I wonder who the "dodgy" one here is. I do love the irony of a Tory being a victim of the type of behavior that ideologically they support though. What goes around, comes around!

[@KS-zj2rq]

this guy is so untrustworthy and seriously annoying

[@graemewoodhead9469]

Excellent interviews by Cathy Newman. There aren't many journalists around that are willing and able to think on their feet and call powerful people out like she does. Not without getting flustered or cowed and moving on.

[@coylezo]

Wonder who of the 13 went running to this guy.

[@nickw6175]

identifing the legal firm is insufficnent you need to actually name the lawyers the one thing lawyers hate is being spotlighted

[@mattj8937]

I would argue that putting her head above the parapet to raise concerns about a Donor whose money and influence could be one of concern to national security is quite contrary to the usual pandering to the money man. I actually find it pretty honourable for an MP to put themselves in the firing line like this, she tried to highlight a potential danger & instead of being supported and protected was betrayed by one of her own. Its outrageous that the question of who leaked the memo was never asked, this is the person the public ought to be scrutinising.

[@jsquire5pa]

He was trying to set up a rival organisation and that was the principal reason for her moving against him … the truth or otherwise of her statements about him were never tested in court .. instead the case was struck out essentially because he couldn’t prove the dissemination of the memo to only a few people seriously harmed him …

[@gorgu08]

Rich man doesn’t like a judge judging, lol you could not make it up

[@ianmangham4570]

They are all ENTITLED

[@educocult]

Sounds like someone's entitled, grandiose and lacking in empathy! Any more narcissistic traits I can add?

[@psuk2319]

Victimhood

[@gingervirus2988]

It would be worthy of investigating the “13” to find out which of them is in this nasty guy’s pocket

[@davidwiltshire6188]

Well done Channel 4 for highlighting all those involved in this murky business, the go to lawyers really need to ask themselves why they continue to exist. If ever there is a swamp that needs draining this is it. Shameful behaviour by all those involved.

[@CoreyCarrington-g6h]

I'm sick of Russian infiltration into British politics he sounds guilty as sin to me. He's completely compromised in his assertions. He's absolutely using his ethnicity as leverage and weak wealth status.

[@Deepthought-42]

Make all political donations illegal and the problem would go away.

[@Deepthought-42]

@@djstuc Exactly. MPs should represent their constituents, not vested interest lobby groups outside their constituency. Also apply the same rules as Civil Servants for travel and accommodation and jobs after they leave. No free membership of exclusive clubs or promises of lucrative appointments when they leave office.

[@ianmangham4570]

I did not hire k2 "my lawyers did"

[@carwynj.thomas5057]

A woman with strength and integrity. You truly are an inspiration.

[@trixilin4610]

What a thoroughly unpleasant, nasty person he is! His dreadful character shines through for everyone to see in the interview. A entitled individual with deep pockets - awful.

[@mikeanderson7549]

You British?

[@jerry2357]

I would make it so that political parties can only use subscriptions from their members for funding. There should be no donations from rich people, whether from the UK or not. Political parties should represent ordinary people, not the super-rich.

[@ao4514]

Well said. 200%!

[@ECECECECEC]

Frankly with Davis in her corner she’s screwed. Prison and scrutiny of his tax affairs will eventually sort out the spoilt entitled ‘donor’.

[@kingdarius5166]

"Ask her to sue me".........

[@duffman9]

If someone donates to a political party that party should not be allowed to give them any direct benefit like a lordship

[@JelMain]

Perhaps the answer's to hand it to MI5.

[@adrianlloyd6403]

Horrible lawyers.They really are pond life in human form.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Read Private Eye about the company

[@nothereandthereanywhere]

They aren't. They just represent the law the politicians implemented into the law. You are looking at the servants, not the makers. Not saying they are great, but I would leave that description for others.

[@adrianlloyd6403]

@@nothereandthereanywhere Sadly the largest profession represented in parliament by MPs is the legal profession.You have lawyers in parliament passing laws in the vested interest of lawyers rather than the voters and the general public.They are the poachers and the gamekeepers in our society.

[@gingervirus2988]

@@nothereandthereanywhere Are you making that statement about the legal profession including or excluding the likes of Carter Ruck?

[@Rakaamlil]

He is completely delusional, and he played the race card, wow, some people have no shame

[@kevinwilliams1768]

he sounds like a wicked entitled person .

[@sandgroper1970]

Lawyers only standard is to whom is paying the fees. 35 years of getting rich at the expense of others. At the end of the day seems to have a thin skin. To be so worried about a memo to other members of the Conservative Party querying his business dealings and interests and the fact that these should be investigated. Seems like someone would prefer to accept donations and not worry about who the donor is and with whom that donor may or may not have ties.

[@any-beans-m8]

What a sad man his ego is astonishing

[@tufftraveller4784]

Feels like the 19th century again lol.

[@mutatis-mutandis]

Toff wars

[@stephenholmes1036]

No this is pure intimidation

[@markrhoden68]

But he doesn't deny the Russia and Bahamas links 😂

[@actuallypaulstanley]

Ooh, look over here at a rich person abusing their wealth in the courts…

[@Ian-mj4pt]

If they fought for improving the country instead of getting money from people

[@moselley]

What a creep.

[@l3eatalphal3eatalpha]

Well he did get his day in the sun on national television news. It didn't do him any favours.

[@Christinebanks11]

When playing the victim is seen as a virtue.

[@jamesguitar7384]

I'm definitely not a tory but between the two of them he definitely comes across as a slimy git .

[@dalek3086]

so who did hire the private investigators ? did he know who hired the private investigators ?

[@Aprilforevergreen]

Horrible man. Definitely abusive.

[@josekorn8414]

What a dangerous bully. This interview shows just that. The law in this country need to change to protect its civilians and not just the rich.

[@a_real_pearson]

Adam Curtis called, he wants his reporting style back

[@jeremylawrence5855]

Corruption rules!

[@PCDelorian]

Extend legal aid to defamation cases.

[@WhichDoctor1]

Member of parliament for the Tigers Eating People’s Faces Party is shocked and upset when one of the tigers her party represents tried to eat her face

[@tmarritt]

Thos is why MPs cant be sued for what they say in the house. She should have said it in the house

[@jackwilfan7573]

Hi channel 4 news, Charlotte Leslie was the MP for Bristol North West not Bristol West. Please check astons

[@generalpurpose772]

Boohoo poor me - somebody wrote true things about me that were already in the public record so I went straight to litigation to make this woman bend the knee and apologise. As if anyone would apologise for telling the truth. He has a massive ego talking about missing years basking in the glow of his success and it’s all this woman’s fault, and the judge’s fault - it’s anyone’s fault but his. Literally no one would have heard about him and his ‘charity’ (how donations to the tories counts as aid for the poor, I don’t know) if it wasn’t for a frivolous lawsuit.

[@keptinjack]

When a rich man has skin thinner than graphene, and uses his wealth to punish those who question

[@polmcsuibhne7657]

you forgot to ask him did anyone around you hire PIs to follow her .........hes not looking very trustworthy .....

[@Dan-B]

Can’t Luke Skywalker just Jedi mind trick the court?

[@andrearoberts1953]

The moral of this story: NEVER send a sensitive email, about a rich person, to 13 people. DUH!

[@gabrielc1989w]

I am a reasonable man. If you don’t like me you can suit me. The irony. 😂

[@paulappleton5812]

3 years is that all? Try going through the family courts to see you kids. 5 years and no end i sight

[@MatthewXLY]

There's something about this that has a whiff of irony, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

[@rogersmith1736]

charllotte thank you for standing firm on your principles we need more greats like you to hold fast against the unscrupulous types you are just amazing god bless you

[@jasoncooper9391]

Shouldn't get involved in dodgy Russian billionaire's

[@tonyholmes962]

Too much money to be advised. Do yourself a favour stay off the telly mate.

[@deeman1643]

anyone surprised?

[@carlsimpson4875]

You would think with all his money he would get his nose sorted............

[@jamesbowskill362]

Its ALL very unfortunate for the lady.....................BUT thank goodness she IS NOT A POST MISTRESS, or she could look forward to having her business dragged through the courts & public domain for over 24 YEARS.......

[@seasonmists]

Power vs money, how boring. There's no other way to determine this other than by the court. Both of them may have been unreasonable. If I were a successful business man I'd fear hostile powerful MPs too. The money is only temporary if you have enemies in parliament. And MPs have nothing but time and should expect risks of being sued just like anybody else. All this piece has done is to advertise for Carter Ruck. She intimated he wanted to hurt her physically without proof; he admitted alleging things about her she should sue him for knowing it would cost her. Both are terrible as much as each other. A lesson if anything.

[@PaulYoudell]

Charlotte Leslie was Conservative MP for Bristol North West rather than Bristol West

[@blackdogbarking]

why is he not asked about russian involvement in tory party and brexit

[@MarkMcCormack-r6q]

Corrupt from top to bottom in British politics and the common people have had enough from the covid pandemic to the post office scandal parliament is outdated and we the people need a new better system

[@dogzero1]

What a horrible bloke.

[@robinsanders5541]

Has anyone informed Mr Amersi about the Streisand effect?

[@darshanathapa99]

Oh yes as if she is a saint!

[@tothepointreviews9675]

He has a point though. Did she fact check her memo?

[@_Ben4810]

It was an opinion only. The court made it's judgement, & Amersi did the interview & made himself look a complete fool....

[@tropicaltrev1617]

so she’s crying about a system she either helped create or supported! 😅

[@DJWESG1]

Obtaining money or power by deception. Obtaining money or power by deception. Obtaining money or power by deception. Obtaining money or power by deception. Obtaining money or power by deception. Obtaining money or power by deception. What is fraud?

[@yewtube3503]

At CR we dont give a f--K. Crooks in suits.

[@simonFellows-p3c]

Nagys "destructive entitlement" embodied.

[@matthewstagg9786]

David Davis is right? Well, I suppose even blind squirrels bump into nuts from time to time.

[@colinvalentine2555]

While I think it is unlikely, I hope Ms Leslie can move on with her life. I worked closely with her when she was a Member of Parliament on non party political issues and always found her to be the very model of integrity. I will be fascinated to see what Private Eye makes of this.

[@Jonnyicey]

SO YOU'RE SAYING.... 😅

[@Robert-vw3od]

Dance with the devil and this is what you’ll get

[@stephenholmes1036]

David Davis is a good MP and has that "legal firm" to a tee