Sir James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher

Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

The inventor was suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for libel over an article published in January 2022.

Mr Dyson told court the article was “a personal attack on all that I have done and achieved in my lifetime and is highly distressing and hurtful”.

Mr Justice Jay dismissed the claims. MGM said the judgement upheld “the right of columnists” to share opinions.

Mr Justice Jay said: “In the present case the Claimant cannot demonstrate that he has suffered financial loss as a result of these publications.

“Nor can he show that his philanthropic work, particularly directed to young people and schools, has been harmed in any way.”

The article, by Brian Reade, referred to Mr Dyson as “the vacuum-cleaner tycoon who championed Vote Leave due to the economic opportunities it would bring to British industry before moving his global head office to Singapore”.

Mr Reade continued: “Kids, talk the talk but then screw your country and if anyone complains, tell them to suck it up.”

During the two-day trial, Justin Rushbrooke KC, for Sir James, said in written submissions that the articles, both in print and online, “constituted a serious and unjustified slur on Sir James’s reputation, business and personal”.

However, MGN defended the claim, including by arguing that Mr Reade’s article was “honest opinion”.

Adrienne Page KC, for MGN, said the words in the article were “substantially correct” and that Sir James could not dictate how the commentator posed them.

Following the decision, an MGN spokesperson said: “We welcome today’s judgment which upholds the rights of our columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals.”

Mr Dyson set up his Dyson Ltd company in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, in 1993 and has since opened bases at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire, as well as Bristol city centre.

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