Overview

• Mrs Justice Steyn ordered Clarke to pay £3m within 28 days as an interim payment toward Guardian News & Media’s legal fees, pending detailed assessment.
• GNM estimates its recoverable costs exceed £6m, and the judge said the £3m sum is below the likely recovery and lower than the usual 75–80% interim level.
• The court declined to stay payment pending an appeal after previously granting Clarke extra time to seek permission to appeal.
• The judge called Clarke’s case “far-fetched,” found him not a credible or reliable witness, and said his conspiracy allegations against witnesses and journalists inflated the costs.
• Clarke represented himself, argued financial hardship, and said he used ChatGPT to prepare submissions, but the judge said ability to pay is considered only at the enforcement stage.