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Richard Burgon to set up paid internship with libel winnings

SHADOW justice secretary Richard Burgon will set up a paid internship funded by damages he received from the Sun newspaper, he announced today.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned paper’s smear campaign against the Leeds East MP linked him to “nazi symbols” in 2017, a slur ruled false and defamatory by the High Court in February.

On Tuesday, the Rt Hon Lord Justice Haddon-Cave rejected the Sun’s attempt to overturn the ruling.

Mr Burgon has said he is “glad” to be able to use the £30,000 in damages to provide a paid internship programme for a young person from his constituency.

He told the Star: “There aren’t enough opportunities for so-called ‘ordinary’ people from communities like my own in Leeds to work in politics.

“The trend of unpaid internships in Parliament rules out so many who have great ability and potential but who don’t have the personal or family wealth to sustain themselves without a wage coming in whilst they get their foot on the career ladder.”

Mr Burgon said he is “delighted” that through his victory he can give someone the “kind of opportunity they otherwise might not have had.”

He added: “This paid justice internship working with me as shadow secretary of state for justice is a great opportunity for someone interested in justice, the law and politics.

“I’m glad that through beating the Sun I can also give something back to my community that has twice given me the honour of being elected to represent them down in Parliament.”

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