The Daily Mail has today apologised to Dale Vince, the green energy industrialist, environmental campaigner and co-owner of Forest Green Rovers, for defaming him in articles by Andrew Pierce published on the MailOnline on 17 March 2024 and in the print edition of The Daily Mail on 18 March 2024. Under the headline ‘How Lee Anderson’s new Reform colleagues were scathing about the MP before he joined the party", the articles falsely accused Mr Vince of supporting Hamas (a proscribed terrorist group) and called for donations he had made to the Labour Party to be returned.
The Mail's apology is set out below:-
"On 17 March 2024 a column item stated that Dale Vince had said that Hamas ‘should be free to defend itself’. We now accept that this quote is inaccurate and wish to make clear that Mr Vince does not support Hamas in any way. We apologise to Mr Vince for any damage and distress caused by the error."
The Mail has also agreed to pay substantial libel damages, which Mr Vince has indicated that he intends to donate to charity.
The Mail has additionally undertaken not to republish similar allegations and to pay Mr Vince's legal costs in full.