THE Orkney Four may have to relaunch their crowdfunding appeal to settle their final legal bill a year after they raised a court action that saw judges brand their MP a liar.
Tim Morrison, Fiona Grahame, Carey Welling and Phaemie Matheson raised an action against LibDem Alistair Carmichael in what became known as the Frenchgate case. It followed the leak of an erroneous memo that claimed Nicola Sturgeon had told the French ambassador she would prefer David Cameron in Downing Street than Ed Miliband following the General Election.
One year ago today, a Cabinet Office inquiry found that Northern Isles MP Carmichael was behind the leak, after he authorised his special adviser Euan Roddin to give it to a Tory, English newspaper.
The four petitioners were stunned when they launched an appeal on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.com and the money started to pour in.
“We thought we would have to raise about £5,000 in the first instance and about £60,000 in total, although we were warned that if it went to trial we would need six figures,” Morrison told The National.
“We thought if we could get the £5,000 by the Friday it would be an indication that we had popular support. When the money poured in – and it was at hundreds of pounds a minute for the first couple of days – it was a very clear indication that we had the support of a wide section of the population. It was astonishing to everyone and became national news very quickly.”
Three months ago, following several days in court and a further hearing for expenses, the “People versus Carmichael” fund sat at £210,050.
However, the available sum is much reduced once credit card and PayPal donations, along with Indiegogo’s charges, are deducted. It is thought the four are now preparing a financial summary after receiving their final bill. A large chunk of Carmichael’s bill – £50,000 – is being paid by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a donation that triggered widespread anger.
But Grahame told The National she was never in any doubt that ordinary people would support their case.
“The independence referendum changed politics in Scotland,” she said. “No longer do people just sit back and accept injustices. What he did was not only wrong, lying to the electorate in Orkney and Shetland, but he has shown no real remorse.
“If we do not hold our politicians to account then we become passive receptacles swallowing every piece of misinformation that they spew out and our democracy will become a sham.”
Welling said she was disappointed at the end result, and that people did not recognise their motive was ethical.
However, she added: “On a good day, I am proud that we showed that crowdfunding can enable ordinary people to use the law, which previously would have been impossible.”
Morrison said: “I knew that the Liberal Democrats were very nasty fighters but I was not prepared for the personal vitriol that came our way.
“They lied about us consistently and refused to believe that we were not a conspiracy – this said more about them than about us. It was very hurtful indeed.
“Being a strong team kept us going. At different times one or other of us would feel wobbly and then the others would come in and be strong. As individuals we could not have done it, but together it was remarkable.
“When the various rulings came out – and there were a number – it was very clear that the courts thought us far from frivolous. We won nearly everything and I feel very vindicated by the process.”
Despite the tribulations of the past year, the petitioners said that if they had to, they would do it all again.
“I hope no one will ever have to do this again. I hope no one else is ever represented by a person who is so weak, dishonourable and deceitful,” said Grahame.
“But even knowing what I do now about how hard it was, I would still do it all again.”
“Yes, but I hope to hell that I don’t have to,” said Morrison. “Carmichael was proven to be a liar and a man of low character.
“His party was shown to be what it is – an unethical bunch who, in the words of one of my neighbours, would sell their grandmother for a vote. They have done themselves incredible harm.”
Orkney Four case: Why Max waved the baton for independence cause
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