Overview

• The Reclaim Party founder appeared at the Royal Courts of Justice on July 28 to begin his appeal against the April 2024 libel damages award.
• A High Court judge ruled that Fox’s 2020 social media posts labeling former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Colin Seymour as paedophiles were defamatory and awarded each man £90,000 in damages.
• Mrs Justice Collins Rice condemned Fox’s allegations as “gross, groundless and indefensible,” citing the distress and reputational harm they caused.
• Fox has publicly criticized the original decision as a “bullies charter” and insists his challenge probes the limits of online free expression.
• Legal experts say the appeal could set a precedent for how UK defamation law addresses unsubstantiated statements on social media.