Accusations of plagiarism are damaging to famous universities. As Richard Posner in The Little Book of Plagiarism notes, an author’s name “establishes a brand identity . . . in the market for expressive goods.” In contemporary academia, originality is no longer tied solely to the scholar.
Professors themselves are brand assets, their reputations for innovation are woven directly into the university’s corporate identity. So accusations of plagiarism are exceptionally dangerous for a top university, as it infects and destroys the brand.
Fortunately, we have uncovered the standard UK University Manual for dealing with plagiarism allegations. This is what Research Integrity Offices use. It’s the four stage strategy.
1. Lie and Deny
The simplest is the best: Lie and deny all responsibility. It often works (with bullying as well).
No one likes to think of a Professor as a shameless plagiarist clawing for recognition and stealing the work of others. Professors are supposed to embody high ethical and academic standards, so they will often get the benefit of the doubt.
A common tactic is to push the blame on someone else, preferably junior. A graduate student did it. A research assistant did it. If the papers are multi-author, then blame the co-authors and deny all responsibility. This is a variant of the classic from Prof Bertram Batlogg of the ETH: “If I’m a passenger in a car that drives through a red light, then it’s not my fault”, as the Professor exculpated himself from fraudulent papers on high temperature super-conductivity.
2. Attack the Accuser
Another well-worn manoeuvre is to turn the tables: the person raising the alarm is accused not of defending ideas but of betraying the spirit of academia, of not being collegial. Their insistence on integrity is reframed as hostility toward the university itself.
This neat trick recasts the whole dispute. Suddenly, the one pointing out plagiarism is not preserving scholarship but guilty of bad manners; not guarding academic integrity, but tearing it down. (This works so well for bullying that it is a recognised psychological stratagem, DARVO).
And of course, the motives of the accuser can be impugned — especially if they are at a lower-ranking university, or are a humble graduate student or postdoc. They are just jealous of the success of the very gifted plagiarist at a high-profile university. It’s sour grapes.
3. Personal Backstory
This is now ubiquitous everywhere — from celebs caught out cheating on their partners to sleazy politicians on the take.
The trick is to cast yourself as the wounded party (‘Strictly’ is providing an example in real-time at the moment in Tom Skinner. Tom was distraught and in tears as he told The Sun about his extra-marital fling this week. Bosh.)
In a world where personal hardship sells, a dramatic account of torment at the hands of an unfounded plagiarism charge turn condemnation into admiration.
It is even better if there is a desperate backstory (whether true or not) that transforms the plagiarist as a plucky outsider succeeding in academia against all odds. The oft-repeated “I’m the first in my family to discover Higher Education….” can be used to begin the fight by invoking widening participation.
4. The Sham Investigation
Suppose none of these have worked. Now you say “Plagiarism is very serious charge. This needs a serious, detailed and confidential investigation. We have proper processes. We have proper procedures. We will not be commenting further or participating in a witch hunt.“
Now starts the sham investigation. It’s sole purpose is to take a very long time. It is a good wheeze to choose an investigator who has been accused of research misconduct or bullying. Anyhow, universities know well enough how to get the right result from a conflicted individual or a dodgy barrister.
Five years later, the investigation reports back & says that the plagiarist made some mistakes & needs some more mentoring which the university is now providing as a responsible employer.
But by now, the scandal has blown over. And Tom Skinner is Home Secretary in Farage’s first administration, so we have much more to worry about.
The 21 Group notes wrily that you may wish to revisit this post later in the week.
69 Comments
Jay · 20 September 2025 at 17:40
I’m smelling the coffee
Spiro · 20 September 2025 at 17:48
I’m joining the dots.
GB · 20 September 2025 at 19:51
I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
TheResearcher · 20 September 2025 at 17:42
“Now starts the sham investigation. It’s sole purpose is to take a very long time.”
This is very true, but I am aware of one exception. The length of such investigations can be immensely shortened if meanwhile the person who blew the whistle is charged with accusation of abusive behaviour against the most senior managers of the University and becomes subject of an investigation. In such cases, the first investigation needs to finish quickly and conclude that it had no merits so that the second can proceed. In these cases, members of the Research Integrity Office work on Friday night, weekends, and even come from holidays specifically to address questions on the process.
SPARTACUS · 20 September 2025 at 21:05
UCam has the same mosus operandi for any internal dispute (plagiarism, serious misconduct or bullying): top management/oligarchy decides upfront if a given culprit is to be protected or destroyed. Then the sham process is conducted to ensure the predetermined outcome! No expense is saved, no Statute is respected and frequently the law is broken. As I keep saying: LIKE THE POST OFFICE SCANDAL! UCam is a toxic place and rotten to the core!
Bloody right · 20 September 2025 at 21:07
Bloody right!
TheResearcher · 20 September 2025 at 23:06
Oh, I just noticed now the striking ending, “The 21 Group notes wrily that you may wish to revisit this post later in the week.”
Is this what I am thinking? Will we finally have breaking news that expose senior members covering up cases? Exciting!!!
21percent.org · 20 September 2025 at 23:29
😉
TheResearcher · 21 September 2025 at 00:02
Happy days!!!
Aurelius · 21 September 2025 at 00:41
As a supporter of this group let me say that I take no pleasure in this, but there is no doubt that it is a matter of duty. There is a duty of the media to report on matters of public interest, and there is a duty of whistleblowers to report the facts: not least when avenues of redress were shut down or exhausted, and there is overwhelming evidence of misconduct in need of redress. It is then our duty to suggest, advise and see implemented the measures needed to restore standards of excellence in UK higher education for the benefit of all, including, importantly, the long term best interests of the university itself. We have seen from recent university rankings the consequences of the failure to correct such failings: and the duty upon all of us to prevent these failures from becoming any worse.
21percent.org · 21 September 2025 at 07:15
This is a comment with which we are in full agreement.
Matters end up in the press because of the failure of the University to deal with them internally in a fair and just manner.
Many matters also can be appealed in the last resort to the Vice Chancellor via Statute A IX
Here, the Vice Chancellor has an important role to play in checking the integrity of internal processes. We do not believe this is effective at the moment.
TheResearcher · 21 September 2025 at 08:40
Public scandals are the only hope we have to remove the incompetent and corrupt individuals from this institution. Many of us tried all the normal routes, talked to tens, sometimes hundreds, of people and were ignored. In some cases, individuals who blow the whistle even become victims of DARVO and are accused of abusive behaviour for alerting those who should have acted but ignored. They are even threatened that the university can call the police to discuss their “crimes.” This is a completely different level of isolation that only those who experienced it can fully appreciate. Unfortunately, many in the 21 Group do appreciate, but there are still many members who do not even dream about the current appalling state of this institution.
Thank you to everyone who stepped up. We need to keep pushing it.
SPARTACUS · 21 September 2025 at 08:34
Statute A IX is one more existing only as a ‘dead letter’! American Queen signs whatever Registrary puts in front of her! This gladiator knows of a very specific example in an ongoing litigation where the VC refused to follow this Statute so that a chosen victim could not be heard in front of the Septemviri. This gladiator understands this litigation is now en route to the High Court. This is just another example where the University oligarchy has disregarded the Statutes and instead is using the Chest to fund its own completely unnecessary legal costs. The good news is that once the case is filed in the High Court it will become public and the chosen victim will finally be able to talk! Public good will be served at long last. But in the ‘process’ the University has managed to destroy a world-class research programme!! Talk about shooting itself in the foot!!
Thomas Davis · 21 September 2025 at 23:24
And, by any chance, does this gladiator know whether that claimant is receiving pro bono assistance?
It is not safe to explain here the reason of my ask (Hi, HR Team!). But, perhaps I could relay an important ask through the 21 Group itself?
21percent.org · 22 September 2025 at 10:29
If you wish, use contact@21percent.org
We will endeavour to pass on any message
Grapevine · 21 September 2025 at 09:24
More than once in the past few years have I heard colleagues at conferences gossiping about “so what is going on” at Cambridge. These conversations used to involve rolled eyes and catty laughter. But more recently the tone is that of revulsion and sheer disgust.
Alan · 21 September 2025 at 15:28
AQ on Private Passions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002jfys
She was asked about her enormous salary
Mainly music, though, she’s at her best in softball interviews
TheResearcher · 21 September 2025 at 17:27
What a timing for this interview! The university in disarray and she is talking about music, not remotely embarrassed by the current state of things in her institution. She could have used the time of the interview to reply to emails that pile up in her mailbox.
Remember these words:
“Cambridge called… I started the path not quite knowing what I was getting into”
“they hired me because they liked the Cambridge I saw and the skills I could bring”
Marching Snowflake · 21 September 2025 at 19:12
Call me an optimist but something about those quotes makes me think this is her swansong (no pun intended)…
TheResearcher · 21 September 2025 at 20:52
Those were just two of my favourite, but there are more:
“Oh well, I mean, so whether Vice-Chancellors are paid too much or too little is a matter for somebody to decide. I mean, it is not a matter, I do not set my own salary… I am very well paid, and I try to work very very hard for it.”
The interviewer’s answer to that will become a classic: “I am sure you do.”
SPARTACUS · 21 September 2025 at 15:48
American Queen is clueless! Does she know she runs a toxic and rotten place? She does NOT care!
Anon · 21 September 2025 at 17:22
My God she is literally fiddling while Rome burns.
Two days after Cambridge was demoted from the top university list, and this is all we get… a music playlist.
Bloody right · 21 September 2025 at 17:52
Bloody right!
Alan · 21 September 2025 at 22:39
The only thing AQ seems really enthusiastic about is widening access, with school trips to the South West, Wales, North of England, Scotland. Eg, see here:
https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/vice-chancellor-continues-uk-tour-south-west-england
And that’s great.
But with a salary of > £500k a year, she is the world’s most expensive Access Officer
TheResearcher · 21 September 2025 at 22:58
Widening access? Really? In that case she will love these fables (https://21percent.org/?p=2443, https://21percent.org/?p=2478)! Wait, perhaps she knows them already…
Hmmmm · 21 September 2025 at 23:30
Maybe when she is done with the grand tour she’ll visit her own staff one day. We’ve only been waiting for three years. We’re not so far away. She could even try sending us an email. We’re dying to hear from her sooner or later for the first ever time – maybe even before she quits the job?
Furious · 22 September 2025 at 10:41
After being paid £2 million of taxpayer money….
SHE
STILL
HAS
NOT
SENT
AN
INTRODUCTORY
EMAIL
TO
STAFF
As a result three years in we are desperate to know are few things.
For example… who is she? What are her plans?
If it ever happens that message will clock in as the most expensive 10m email in the history of public service in any country anywhere.
TheResearcher · 22 September 2025 at 11:13
I would be happy if she could at least reply to reports of research and behavioural misconduct, namely those involving students in widening participation programs.
21percent.org · 23 September 2025 at 09:37
Research & behavioural misconduct is everywhere & everyone knows about it
For example, knowledge of the various scandals in the School of Physical Sciences is widespread in the university.
Similarly, knowledge of the catastrophe at CRUK-Cam is everywhere.
Everyone knows, but apparently not the VC.
“Alice’s Adventures Among the Fellows” — a seemingly innocent or naïve Alice moves through corrupt or compromised worlds, appearing not to grasp the rot around her
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 10:13
There are no innocents in that story. The VC knows the current state of things and actively ignores. A Master of a given College recently told me that it is not her fault that she does not respond to my emails but her Office’s. The same Master told me that it was his secretary who had messed up the dates of our meeting. “It was totally her fault,” he said. I think that even when the scandals get public, they will find a way to say that it was the cleaner’s fault.
Drucker · 23 September 2025 at 18:52
Important point here. One that helps understand many scandals. Many key officeholders do little work in role. All cascades to secretaries earning fraction of income. They are quiet heroes sometimes. But also: overwhelmed + high churn + little insight on academic standards + dependent on senior HR. Result: negligence on grand scale. Watch Scottish parliament hearings in detail: VCs asked why they did not do x + not see y + why sign z. Answer: they had no clue and just blamed others. No managerial competence + asleep at wheel. Might be fine if acting in voluntary capacity but CEO salaries should depend CEO attention – not negligence and amateurism.
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 19:32
I am aware of a Pro-Vice Chancellor who recently received a whistleblowing disclosure that was a safeguarding referral based on medical evidence. He dared to claim that it did not have merit and did not have public interest even though the whistleblowing disclosure had been done by a third party. Instead, this Pro-Vice Chancellor took as given the word of people who were conflicted and that he knew were people involved in multiple scandals in the university, some of the most discussed in the 21 Group. He did not even contact the victim. This particular Pro-Vice Chancellor had all the evidence he needed to do an investigation if he wanted.
Fabulist · 23 September 2025 at 20:00
Drucker,
Close to my own view. Mistakes are made much lower down the food chain.
VC or Academic Secretary or Registrary blindly support “their staff”: without proper assessment. After all, they have no idea of what is really going on.
Hence, problems don’t get fixed, they fester and escalate (causing huge waste of time, money & resources).
Factualist · 23 September 2025 at 20:43
My understanding is the same: i.e. multiple individuals reporting they raised serious concerns around bullying, risk to life and illegality to Pro-VCs, VC, and heads of HR, but say they were either explicitly dismissed, explicitly told to ignore the medical evidence, or more simply, never received a reply. A number allegedly sent multiple emails like this when their concerns were not being answered, but still got nothing back by way of a response.
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 23:48
I do not doubt this is true, and that the numbers are very high. But we need to go beyond individual complaints that do not lead anywhere, just draining our lives. We really need to do some collective action. The 21 Group knows my view and can give my contacts to whoever is keen on a collective action. If nothing else, a collective action from the people who experienced abuses from the same individuals such as it happens in the School of Physical Sciences. It needs to be clear that the VC, ProVCs, and other senior management are claiming that X number of people are all wrong and only the Head of the School or the Lead HR Business Partner is right. This is mind blowing to any person with common sense and only works as they do now because they isolate individuals.
Anon · 24 September 2025 at 11:47
” A Master of a given College recently told me that it is not her fault that she does not respond to my emails but her Office’s”
From a management perspective this is exactly the core of the problem. The first duty of any chief executive is to hire and manage a team of staff to support them who are competent and capable of dealing with inquiries to their office. If they fail in this, then it is their own ultimate responsibility.
Some UK VCs seem not to understand this. As the recent Scottish Parliament hearings demonstrate they think it is acceptable to blame their staff for their own failures of oversight.
Even mid-level private sector executives on the same salary point would demand staff call or meet them personally so they can proactively resolve conflicts and bottlenecks. Richard Branson gave his phone number to all his employees and told them to call direct if a manager was at fault. A good VC would adopt the same logic.
TheResearcher · 24 September 2025 at 12:45
Just to clarify, this Master knows perfectly well that it is not the fault of the VC’s Office that the VC does not reply to people reporting research and behavioural misconduct as a last resort, including whistleblowing disclosures that were safeguarding referrals, because he has been cced in correspondence where the personal address of the VC is used, and the VC does not reply.
This Master also asked me what I wanted from all this, and when I said it is necessary formal apologies from the university to me and other people involved, he told me that my bar was too high, and it would be simpler if I asked for money. He was not very happy with my answer to that suggestion.
Anon · 24 September 2025 at 13:17
“This Master also asked me what I wanted from all this, and when I said it is necessary formal apologies from the university to me and other people involved, he told me that my bar was too high, and it would be simpler if I asked for money.”
An apology would mean accepting fault. Throwing money at the injured party enables one to claim that the prospect of monetary compensation was the main reason they complained.
🤮
21percent.org · 24 September 2025 at 13:46
Many in University or College senior management think “You can always solve a problem by throwing money it”
The problem is that it is never the best way to solve a problem.
TheResearcher · 24 September 2025 at 13:28
Incidentally, this Master is very active in X/Tweeter regarding global problems. I think he is not familiar with the phrase “Think globally, Act locally” and somenone should remind him about that.
SPARTACUS · 23 September 2025 at 10:26
This is very serious:
Similarly, knowledge of the catastrophe at CRUK-Cam is everywhere.
SPARTACUS · 23 September 2025 at 10:35
Double speak 1984 style:
“(…) I learned the style of leadership that best suits me: find brilliant people; get to know them, their gifts and abilities; create an environment in which they can flourish; and then get out of their way! (..)”
Seriously?????
21percent.org · 23 September 2025 at 10:48
“I learnt the style of leadership that best suits me: find brilliant people; take credit for their gifts and abilities; create an environment in which I can flourish; and then get out of their way — by leaving them to clean up the mess I made”
FTFY
Standard modus operandi of a VC at any UK University.
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 11:13
I would be interested to know a single case where a victim of misconduct escalated the issue to the VC of UCam and was pleased by how the process was addressed. Most of us have very negative experiences, but I would honestly be keen to know a person who had a different experience. If you are aware of a single example, please let us know.
TigerWhoCametoET · 23 September 2025 at 20:53
In my view this is a very good question to ask and I wonder if it could be FOI-ed? For my part I would not wish to prejudge the answer, as perhaps there are such instances but from the stories going around it does seem not to be so?
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 21:26
I was being very serious. I would like to know the view of someone who had a good experience after interacting with the most senior management regarding a case of misconduct. Regarding FOI, one could ask the number of cases submitted via Statute A IX per year for the last 5-10 years, and the number of wholly or partially uphold cases. And if one wanted to push it, one could even ask the number of cases that went to the Commissary after and its success rate. I doubt they would release the data though. The Information Compliance Office already know many of us… Perhaps a journalist could ask them when the scandals start to leak!
21percent.org · 23 September 2025 at 23:22
The 21 Group has put in this FOI request.
SPARTACUS · 23 September 2025 at 12:08
This was not, although it could be, a VC quote. This is a quote today from one of the main actors of the CRUK -Cam catastrophic events!
TheResearcher · 23 September 2025 at 12:40
That could have been a quote from so many people at UCam…
Bloody right · 23 September 2025 at 14:50
Bloody well said, bloody right!
Eileen Nugent · 23 September 2025 at 22:42
When would acts of plagiarism in academia not in fact be plagiarism? When would acts of plagiarism in academia not count as misconduct and not be a sackable offence? Is it possible to create the illusion of being a plagiarist whilst not actually being a plagiarist?
BreakerMorant · 24 September 2025 at 10:15
The Professor at centre of the plagiarism scandal has now hired Carter-Ruck solicitors
Who’s paying?
Great question! We recall the comments of Villanelle on the previous thread (SH and Oxford University’s Spin Machine). Quite often the institution or the University picks up the tab (with public money) 😱
Here’s one of Carter-Ruck’s partners in a spot of bother for protecting the reputation of a client, Ruja Ignatova (who turned out to be a notorious crypto fraudster)
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/aug/06/solicitor-at-uk-libel-firm-facing-tribunal-over-threat-allegations-tied-to-fake-cryptocurrency
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/sep/19/partner-at-top-libel-firm-hired-in-furtherance-of-tribunal-rules
Claire’s now been convicted by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal of acting in furtherance of fraud.
It’s worth reading Claire’s web-page
https://www.carter-ruck.com/lawyers/claire-gill/
“Claire gives urgent trouble-shooting advice before publication or broadcast. Often working alongside PR advisers, she helps companies and high-profile individuals to deal with unwanted media scrutiny, with a view to preventing publication of material that would infringe their rights to reputation, confidentiality and privacy.”
The plagiarism scandal is not the only Cambridge University scandal being held up by expensive lawyers.
TheResearcher · 24 September 2025 at 11:18
Does that mean it will not be out this week? That is very sad news!
We really need to do it ourselves, share everything regardless of the consequences. Otherwise, they will keep doing this over and over and over and over and over.
“their rights to reputation, confidentiality and privacy”? Seriously, what a bunch of cowards.
Eileen Nugent · 24 September 2025 at 10:47
One approach to encountering mental instability for the first time is to feel ‘ashamed’ of a ‘moral failing’, an alternative approach to encountering mental instability is to map out the region of mental stability by exploring what lies at its boundaries. If an act of plagiarism is the product of original research is it in fact plagiarism?
Continuous performance optimisation – the process of continuously attempting to find a region of mental stability that stabilises performance at the level being demanded in a particular role by a particular organisation – is a valid worker action to be continuously taking. If an act of plagiarism occurs within the context of performance optimisation – worker taking a valid worker action – does it count as misconduct? is it a sackable offence?
Bobby · 24 September 2025 at 13:52
What a pity the much discussed Master is not Lord McDonald, Master of Christs. Here he is extolling the vIrtues of kindness and accessibility.
https://x.com/SimonMcDonaldUK/status/1943973480242065811
I just voted for SANDI TOKSVIG as Chancellor of Cambridge Uni. She offers a different approach – accessible, energetic & kind.
Lord McDonald would have been quick to help, I’m sure
TheResearcher · 24 September 2025 at 14:22
What a pity indeed. Of course, in that case there would be two important issues that would make the case particularly difficult. On the one hand, the VC is a Fellow of his College. If the VC was at fault, someone from his Fellowship was at fault. On the other, he is a member of the University Council. If the University was in an appalling state and needed immediate change, namely regarding addressing research and behavioural misconduct, as I claimed it does, someone could dare to ask what the role of the University Council has been in all that. That would be a very difficult case indeed.
TheResearcher · 25 September 2025 at 13:31
Breaking news!
I was just forbidden to use my @cam account after having used Statute A IX formally last week and replying to the Pro-Vice Chancellors who contacted me.
And guess what, this all needs to be confidential! What a decaying place…
SPARTACUS · 25 September 2025 at 14:34
UCam is equal to the Post Office! @21percent needs to go to all national newspapers and have them read these blogs and decide if the multiple scandals at UCam are of public interest. The place is both toxic and rotten!
TheResearcher · 25 September 2025 at 14:58
You will like to know this. I have just asked the investigator if they could share 1 single allegation against me after all this time of investigations and they could not send me one. They are still “collating information” at this stage. This is becoming so pathetic that they do not seem to understand they are making the situation much worse.
But rest assured, “Precautionary action is not intended to be a punishment and it is not indicative of the outcome of an investigation; it is the use of proportionate action to meet the aims outlined in the procedure, on the basis of an assessment of the risk.”
Anonymous · 25 September 2025 at 16:54
When they have finished concocting and getting their ducks in order, you might get a response, but as usual it will be non specific and useless to you, except in proving later that you are currently being mistreated.
There will be no evidence against you of course, and so they will revert to terms like “pattern of behaviour”, and assume that several items that are not cause for complaint
will add up to a major complaint. Then they will likely declare a “breakdown in trust and confidence”.
“Precautionary action is not intended to be a punishment and it is not indicative of the outcome of an investigation; it is the use of proportionate action to meet the aims outlined in the procedure, on the basis of an assessment of the risk.”
I’ve seen some incredible statements from HR and senior management in my time, but this takes the biscuit for mumbo jumbo.
TheResearcher · 25 September 2025 at 17:15
A “breakdown in trust and confidence”? I will love to receive one of those…
I am waiting for another breaking news soon, likely to be “temporarily” expelled as I will obviously not respect their ridiculous rules that are sent to threaten people. I will let you know when it happens. At least they will not be able to call Carter-Ruck solicitors to prevent me from disclosing this experience. Stay tuned!
Nico · 25 September 2025 at 17:30
I agree – it’s fascinating.
It should be published.
Perhaps we can start a collection of the many similar shamelessly nonsensical pieces of prose that come out of our HR and legal departments.
Who knows, it might sell. Alongside the Cambridge Fables.
But we’ll be accused of plagiarism, of course…
TheResearcher · 25 September 2025 at 21:19
I am very keen to publish all my stories at any time, regardless the consequences to me. If any of you are game, please tell the 21 Group. The current state of things is seriously disgraceful, and it is hard to be believe what they are willing to do to break people, and the number of people who see it in real time and choose to ignore. I have some energy left but they will find a way to kick me out soon. Obviously, I will be able to contact people with a non-Cambridge email account even if they expel me, and will use the opportunity to explain what is happening while sending some relevant attachments.
We need to find a way to have some of these stories published as soon as possible as waiting for tribunal/court, is very slow and they may hire Carter-Ruck solicitors or alike in the end to suppress the story. They received a jaw-dropping scandal of plagiarism about to get published publicly, know that other stories are being supressed, and they behave as if nothing is happening the background…
21percent.org · 25 September 2025 at 21:57
“…and the number of people who see it in real time and choose to ignore.”
Most academics are frightened of their universities and would be frightened to speak out publicly unless they were one of a large group of people all speaking out at the same time.
TheResearcher · 25 September 2025 at 22:17
Very sad, namely when it comes from people you trusted, but true.
translator · 26 September 2025 at 07:15
“(This) Precautionary action is intended to be a punishment and it is indicative of the outcome of an investigation (which I already know as I’ve set it up, written the terms of reference, run rings around the investigator, provided witness statements, made suggestions for the report and drafted the outcome letter); it is the use of disproportionate action, and “the” (undefined) procedure I am referring to does not exist. I have just invented it, as well as its specific aims, on the basis of an assessment of “the” (equally undefined) risk you pose to me and others through your conduct.”
Breaker Morant · 25 September 2025 at 21:50
Carter-Ruck win for now … the scandal is too big to hush up, though.
Too many people know.
TigerWhoCametoET · 26 September 2025 at 07:59
Surely if public money is being spent to hush up this scandal then that too by default becomes a matter of public interest?
Thoughts · 26 September 2025 at 09:03
If the comms office are involved in any capacity, then “by default” public money is being spent in the pursuit of preventing disclosures that may be considered in the public interest.