Kevin Barron, Sarah Champion and John Healey are suing UKIP MEP Jane Collins for libel and slander after she made comments about the extent of their knowledge of Rotherham’s child sexual exploitation.

From The Star :

“A statement on behalf of the three MPs said the legal action was being taken in relation to comments made by Ms Collins at the UKIP party conference in Doncaster in September. Her comments came shortly after the Jay report found at least 1,600 children in Rotherham had been abused over a 16-year-period, with serious failings by the police and Labour-controlled Rotherham Council to protect victims and stop abuse.

In a joint statement, Sarah Champion MP, John Healey MP and Kevin Barron MP said: “It is sickening that UKIP could use such an important issue for party-political point-scoring, and we will challenge these defamatory accusations through every means available to prove they are untrue and to stop UKIP exploiting the terrible abuse for their own political gain.”

Well, that’s all I can say on the matter.  I know from experience that sueing for defamation of character is an extremely difficult and complex issue which is financially not an option for the “ordinary person”  in Rotherham or anywhere else. Of course, this might not be the case for the likes  of our MPs.

Welcome any comments on personal experiences.