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Gilligan presented a fortnightly programme for [[Press TV]], the Iranian government's English-language TV channel. Rod Liddle challenged Gilligan in July 2009 about working for an "international propaganda channel run by the Iranian government".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2010/11/andrew-gilligan-islamism-press | location=London | work=New Statesman | title=The truth about Andrew Gilligan | date=22 November 2010}}</ref> Gilligan stopped his regular show in December 2009, though he appeared twice more on the network just before the UK's May 2010 general election. Gilligan attributed his decision to leave to the [[Politics of Iran]] "that was inconsistent with my opposition to [[Islamic extremism|Islamism]]. I have not worked for Press TV since."<ref name="Gilligan">{{cite news| url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100064715/mehdi-hasan-new-statesmans-senior-editor-makes-up-quote/ | location=London | work=The Telegraph | title=Mehdi Hasan: New Statesman's senior editor makes up quote | date=22 November 2010}}</ref> Gilligan also stated that his work for Press TV consisted of a "regular discussion show on the station, in which Islamism, and the policies of the Iranian government, were often debated and challenged."<ref name="Gilligan"/>
Gilligan presented a fortnightly programme for [[Press TV]], the Iranian government's English-language TV channel. Rod Liddle challenged Gilligan in July 2009 about working for an "international propaganda channel run by the Iranian government".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2010/11/andrew-gilligan-islamism-press | location=London | work=New Statesman | title=The truth about Andrew Gilligan | date=22 November 2010}}</ref> Gilligan stopped his regular show in December 2009, though he appeared twice more on the network just before the UK's May 2010 general election. Gilligan attributed his decision to leave to the [[Politics of Iran]] "that was inconsistent with my opposition to [[Islamic extremism|Islamism]]. I have not worked for Press TV since."<ref name="Gilligan">{{cite news| url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100064715/mehdi-hasan-new-statesmans-senior-editor-makes-up-quote/ | location=London | work=The Telegraph | title=Mehdi Hasan: New Statesman's senior editor makes up quote | date=22 November 2010}}</ref> Gilligan also stated that his work for Press TV consisted of a "regular discussion show on the station, in which Islamism, and the policies of the Iranian government, were often debated and challenged."<ref name="Gilligan"/>

In October 2008, it was reported that Gilligan had engaged in [[sockpuppeting]].<ref>[http://www.adambienkov.com/2008/10/andrew-gilligan-caught-sockpuppeting.html Andrew Gilligan caught 'sockpuppeting' his critics] Adam Bienkov</ref> Guardian journalist Dave Hill wrote about the allegations.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2008/nov/03/gilligan | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Andrew Gilligan, | first=Dave | last=Hill | date=3 November 2008}}</ref> Gilligan stated that one of the alleged sockpuppets was his "partner".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-feral-beast-spoils-divided-at-private-eye-1002770.html | location=London | work=The Independent | title=The Feral Beast: spoils divided at 'Private Eye | date=9 November 2008}}</ref>


On 22 November 2011 Gilligan criticised the [[Leveson Inquiry]] in an appearance before the House of Lords communications committee.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/22/leveson-inquiry-criticised-telegraph-editor Leveson inquiry criticised by Daily Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan] John Plunkett</ref> When asked about the main threats to investigative journalism in the foreseeable future, he argued "The most important threat is official restraint, by which I mean libel and privacy law, state surveillance, and the potential threat posed by the Leveson inquiry."<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100119185/investigative-journalism-my-testimony-to-the-lords-select-committee-2/ Investigative journalism: my testimony to the Lords' select committee] Andrew Gilligan</ref> He wrote that the public still trusted the press,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9685774/Trust-in-the-press-has-not-died.html Trust in the press has not died] Andrew Gilligan</ref> and in the wake of the BBC's false linking of child abuse to Lord McAlpine he suggested Lord Leveson should take note.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9669938/Newsnight-was-wrong-the-BBC-more-so.html Newsnight was wrong, the BBC more so] Andrew Gilligan</ref> However, Gilligan himself was cited in a submission to the Leveson enquiry, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Submission-by-London-Muslim-Centre-and-East-London-Mosque.pdf |title=Submission by the East London Mosque |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=15 October 2013}}</ref> also in a case of child abuse which he had wrongly linked to a mosque.<ref>[http://religiouschildabuse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/uk-muslim-extremist-leader-jailed-for.html UK Muslim extremist leader jailed for molesting little girls while they recited religious texts] Andrew Gilligan (original source deleted)</ref> The Telegraph deleted Gilligan's article and issued a correction,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8550515/East-London-Mosque.html East London Mosque] The Telegraph</ref><ref>[http://www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk/news/324 Daily Telegraph Publishes Corrections] East London Mosque</ref> though he later denied any story he had written had been corrected.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100095022/east-london-mosque-just-cant-stop-digging/ East London Mosque just can't stop digging] Andrew Gilligan</ref>
On 22 November 2011 Gilligan criticised the [[Leveson Inquiry]] in an appearance before the House of Lords communications committee.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/22/leveson-inquiry-criticised-telegraph-editor Leveson inquiry criticised by Daily Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan] John Plunkett</ref> When asked about the main threats to investigative journalism in the foreseeable future, he argued "The most important threat is official restraint, by which I mean libel and privacy law, state surveillance, and the potential threat posed by the Leveson inquiry."<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100119185/investigative-journalism-my-testimony-to-the-lords-select-committee-2/ Investigative journalism: my testimony to the Lords' select committee] Andrew Gilligan</ref> He wrote that the public still trusted the press,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9685774/Trust-in-the-press-has-not-died.html Trust in the press has not died] Andrew Gilligan</ref> and in the wake of the BBC's false linking of child abuse to Lord McAlpine he suggested Lord Leveson should take note.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9669938/Newsnight-was-wrong-the-BBC-more-so.html Newsnight was wrong, the BBC more so] Andrew Gilligan</ref> However, Gilligan himself was cited in a submission to the Leveson enquiry, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Submission-by-London-Muslim-Centre-and-East-London-Mosque.pdf |title=Submission by the East London Mosque |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=15 October 2013}}</ref> also in a case of child abuse which he had wrongly linked to a mosque.<ref>[http://religiouschildabuse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/uk-muslim-extremist-leader-jailed-for.html UK Muslim extremist leader jailed for molesting little girls while they recited religious texts] Andrew Gilligan (original source deleted)</ref> The Telegraph deleted Gilligan's article and issued a correction,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8550515/East-London-Mosque.html East London Mosque] The Telegraph</ref><ref>[http://www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk/news/324 Daily Telegraph Publishes Corrections] East London Mosque</ref> though he later denied any story he had written had been corrected.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100095022/east-london-mosque-just-cant-stop-digging/ East London Mosque just can't stop digging] Andrew Gilligan</ref>

Revision as of 13:13, 16 October 2013

Andrew Paul Gilligan (born 22 November 1968) is a British journalist best known for a 2003 report on BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme in which he said a British government briefing paper on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction (the September Dossier) had been 'sexed up'. In 2013 he became London's Cycling Commissioner.

Early career

Gilligan was born in Teddington[1] in London and was educated at Grey Court School, Kingston College of Further Education and at St John's College, Cambridge, where he studied history[1] and was news editor of the student newspaper Varsity.[2]

Career in journalism

In 1994, he joined the Cambridge Evening News[1] and later moved to the Sunday Telegraph where he became a specialist reporter on defence.[1]

In 1999 he was recruited by BBC Radio 4 Today programme editor Rod Liddle as Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent.[1] In May 2003, Gilligan made a broadcast in which he claimed that the British Government had "sexed up" a report in order to exaggerate the WMD capabilities of Saddam Hussein.[3] Gilligan resigned from the BBC in 2004,[1] in the wake of the Hutton Inquiry, after Lord Hutton questioned the reliability of Gilligan's evidence.[4] In a statement, he admitted making mistakes and also stated, "The government did sex up the dossier, transforming possibilities and probabilities into certainties, removing vital caveats".[5]

In April 2008, Gilligan was named Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards[6] for his work on the Mayoralty. In autumn 2009, he joined the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.[7]

Gilligan was also a reporter for Channel 4's investigative programme Dispatches, covering a number of issues, including an allegedly fundamentalist Islamic group in Tower Hamlets.[8]

Gilligan presented a fortnightly programme for Press TV, the Iranian government's English-language TV channel. Rod Liddle challenged Gilligan in July 2009 about working for an "international propaganda channel run by the Iranian government".[9] Gilligan stopped his regular show in December 2009, though he appeared twice more on the network just before the UK's May 2010 general election. Gilligan attributed his decision to leave to the Politics of Iran "that was inconsistent with my opposition to Islamism. I have not worked for Press TV since."[10] Gilligan also stated that his work for Press TV consisted of a "regular discussion show on the station, in which Islamism, and the policies of the Iranian government, were often debated and challenged."[10]

In October 2008, it was reported that Gilligan had engaged in sockpuppeting.[11] Guardian journalist Dave Hill wrote about the allegations.[12] Gilligan stated that one of the alleged sockpuppets was his "partner".[13]

On 22 November 2011 Gilligan criticised the Leveson Inquiry in an appearance before the House of Lords communications committee.[14] When asked about the main threats to investigative journalism in the foreseeable future, he argued "The most important threat is official restraint, by which I mean libel and privacy law, state surveillance, and the potential threat posed by the Leveson inquiry."[15] He wrote that the public still trusted the press,[16] and in the wake of the BBC's false linking of child abuse to Lord McAlpine he suggested Lord Leveson should take note.[17] However, Gilligan himself was cited in a submission to the Leveson enquiry, [18] also in a case of child abuse which he had wrongly linked to a mosque.[19] The Telegraph deleted Gilligan's article and issued a correction,[20][21] though he later denied any story he had written had been corrected.[22]

In March 2013 Gilligan became the host of the Sunday Politics show on LBC 97.3.[23]

In January 2013 Gilligan was appointed as the Cycling Commissioner for London by Mayor Boris Johnson.[24] Accusations of "cronyism" were made following the appointment especially since Gilligan was instrumental in toppling the Mayor's main rival Ken Livingstone.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Profile: Andrew Gilligan". bbc.co.uk. 30 January 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  2. ^ "About Varsity". varsity.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  3. ^ "David Kelly: timeline". Telegraph. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  4. ^ "'I have considerable doubts as to how reliable this journalist's evidence is'". Telegraph. 29 January 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Gilligan statement in full". BBC News. 30 January 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  6. ^ "British Press Awards: Andrew Gilligan named journalist of the year". Press Gazette. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  7. ^ Brook, Stephen (19 June 2009). "Andrew Gilligan to join the Telegraph". Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Dispatches – Britain's Islamic Republic". Channel 4. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  9. ^ "The truth about Andrew Gilligan". New Statesman. London. 22 November 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Mehdi Hasan: New Statesman's senior editor makes up quote". The Telegraph. London. 22 November 2010.
  11. ^ Andrew Gilligan caught 'sockpuppeting' his critics Adam Bienkov
  12. ^ Hill, Dave (3 November 2008). "Andrew Gilligan,". The Guardian. London.
  13. ^ "The Feral Beast: spoils divided at 'Private Eye". The Independent. London. 9 November 2008.
  14. ^ Leveson inquiry criticised by Daily Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan John Plunkett
  15. ^ Investigative journalism: my testimony to the Lords' select committee Andrew Gilligan
  16. ^ Trust in the press has not died Andrew Gilligan
  17. ^ Newsnight was wrong, the BBC more so Andrew Gilligan
  18. ^ "Submission by the East London Mosque" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  19. ^ UK Muslim extremist leader jailed for molesting little girls while they recited religious texts Andrew Gilligan (original source deleted)
  20. ^ East London Mosque The Telegraph
  21. ^ Daily Telegraph Publishes Corrections East London Mosque
  22. ^ East London Mosque just can't stop digging Andrew Gilligan
  23. ^ "Andrew Gilligan on LBC". Lbc.audioagain.com. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  24. ^ "Andrew Gilligan to be London's 'cycling commissioner'". The Times. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  25. ^ Hugh Muir and Adam Bienkov. "Boris Johnson triggers fresh cronyism claims with Andrew Gilligan job | Politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.

External links

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