THE man at the centre of a £300,000 libel writ says politicians must be allowed to speak freely.
Paul Flynn, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Newport West, denies any wrongdoing and dismissed the writ as "a joke", as we revealed yesterday.
On April 4, solicitors acting for Endowment Justice and three other claimants filed a claim form in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court against Mr Flynn, claiming damages exceeding £300,000 for libel contained on his website, titled Justice for some, and an article in Money Marketing Magazine, entitled Endowment chasers are wolves profiteering from misery.
Mr Flynn said: "I refuse to be gagged.
"All my comments were fair and drew attention to the free services available from the Financial Services Authority and Which? "Answering the writ could mean large costs in defending it. This strikes at the heart of an MP's job.
"We must be free to make valid criticism without threats of libel action."
Also standing in Newport West are Saeid Arjomand, Ind; Nigel Flanagan, Lib Dem; Hugh Moelwyn Hughes, UKIP; Dr William Morgan, Con; Anthony Salkeld, Plaid; and Peter Varley, Green.
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