Johanna Kaschke: the strange case of the Tory ‘suspected of links to leftwing extremists’
Posted on Thursday 13 May, 2010
Filed Under Blogging
TOWER Hamlets Tory activist Johanna Kaschke really is one cherry short of a Schwarzwälderkirschtorte. [CONTENT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED PENDING THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION]
Because the judgment attracts absolute privilege, I can also quote Eady’s finding that in the 1970s Ms Kaschke ‘played a minor role in organising a benefit concert in aid of “Red Help”, which provided legal assistance to left-wing radicals in Germany at that time’.
As is amply attested by newspaper coverage from the period, among the leftwing radicals assisted by Rote Hilfe – to give that group its German name – were the openly terrorist Baader-Meinhof Gang. Rote Hilfe is still in existence, and to this day proudly proclaims its ideological affinities on its own website.
Again in Eady’s words, it has also been established that Ms Kaschke ‘was arrested in Germany in July 1975 and suspected of links to left-wing extremists’. I am even in possession of a copy of the arrest warrant, which confirms that she was in proximity to paraphernalia including imitation firearms at this time.
It is of course true that she was never formally accused of any criminal offence, and that after some months in detention, she was compensated for wrongful arrest. But I prominently mentioned this to be the case in my original post. For the record, let me reiterate that I fully accept her assertions to this effect.
It is also true that Ms Kaschke resigned from the Labour Party in 2007 after having failed to secure nomination as prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, and spent short periods in Respect and the Communist Party prior to her conversion to Conservatism by the end of that year.
These are simply the facts of her political life, and it falls to her to account for them should she seek to obtain positions of influence in the community or even elected office.
It is ludicrous that a civil prosecution can be brought simply for stating things that are widely known among political activists in Tower Hamlets, where Ms Kaschke resides. That I came close to facing a two-week jury trial because some bright spark made a wisecrack about cream-laden confectionary typical of the Black Forest region of Germany borders on the surreal.
[CONTENT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION]
There are many aspects of libel law clearly overdue for reform, and it would be a step forward if measures were introduced to prevent anyone else having to suffer the grief and expense I have had to endure for three years.
At the end of the day, Ms Kaschke reveals herself as at the very least a [CONTENT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION]person, who brings [CONTENT TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION] simply by virtue of her presence.
The Tories are welcome to her.
As I have now been vindicated in full, it only remains to thank my legal team – Robert ‘Legal King’ Dougans, David Allen Green (aka Jack of Kent), Joel Benathan QC and Martin Huseyin – as well as Stroppy for her constant backing throughout all this shit.
Thanks also to everyone else who has chipped in with supportive comments or attended any of the hearings.
Legal action between Ms Kaschke and Alex Hilton, recently Labour PPC in Kensington and Chelsea, and newly-elected Newham Labour councillor John Gray is still pending. But there is now little doubt as to what the result will be.
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94 Responses to “Johanna Kaschke: the strange case of the Tory ‘suspected of links to leftwing extremists’”
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Congratulations. Pity politics draws people like that like flies are drawn to ….
I wouldn’t count on Eady.
He keeps getting reversed in the higher courts.
“I wouldn’t count on Eady.
He keeps getting reversed in the higher courts.”
Yes, but he has only been overturned when he has bent over backwards to favour the plaintiff, which he apparently has a tendency to do.
Victory to Comrade Osler!!
Well done Dave, the video clips did you credit
I already wished you an off-topic mazel tov in your previous post so thanks for giving me a chance to italicise my good wishes.
Great news, Dave.
Fantastic news Mr Osler. A victory for journalism. I salute you.
Fraternally
James
excellent news about outcome, but as has been said before, there are no winners here, libel laws need reform. Though still, well done Mr Osler.
I wasn’t aware of this case before but I know the name of JK from way back in Tower Hamlets. I’m sure you had better things to do with your time than fight this case – well done and congratulations.
“As she has no assets, it is unlikely that I will ever recover costs. Moreover, the woman appreciates all this very well, and has many times gloated openly at the apparent ‘no lose’ scenario in which she finds herself. She may be in for a surprise.”
Any chance of some kind of benefit gig, cake sale or something? Perhaps the proceeds could be split two ways, one to defray your costs, the other to promote Ms Kaschke’s career in the Tory party, a smart business-like suit from Tesco, maybe.
(One does have a degree of sympathy with Ms Thingy, however, what with her not seeming to fire on all cylinders.)
Congratulations, comrade. Must be a load off your mind.
Very good news. A great day for you, blogging and common sense.
I notice one of the few rays of hope in the deal struck between the Tories and LibDems is libel reform. I hope this happens quickly so no one has to go through a painful farce like this again.
Fantastic news, Dave. Eady J done good.
Amazing news, Dave! I think the idea of a benefit gig isn’t a bad idea incidentally!
Brilliant news a chara. I salute your indefatigability.
Nice one, Dave – well chuffed for you, mate. ‘Benefit Gig’? Maybe a portion of the evening giving over to jamming? More than happy to trade a few licks with your good self
Congratulations, hope this doesn’t cause any further problems.
Congratulations. I hope that this is the end of this ridiculous action
I know we are back in Toryland, so benefit gigs will be much more regular, but my bones are too old for that sort of thing, and music is just so lound these days. So where can I send my tenner?
loud… not lound
My impression, having seen her in action, is that she is mentally ill. Her conduct – in this, and in her politics – has been irrational. The only other explanation is that she is merely attention seeking – but this is attention seeking on a pathological scale.
This does not detract from what this woman did to you. It was pernicious. It took huge courage to stand up to this. Ultimately, you won a deserved and important victory.
Also, isn’t bourgeois justice great! Produces the right result, you see!
Well done Dave!
So Dave can you reveal who is really behind those cases against you and others.
You must be very relieved. Best to forget the financial loss and get on with life now.
Excellent news, well fought
If you can’t recover costs then a fund-raiser shin-dig sounds like a great idea
Well done!
Well done comrade.
So, now it’s all-over will be hearing from ‘southpawpunch’? Was intrigued by his mysterious reluctance to get involved in this.
http://stroppyblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/daves-libel-case-impact-on-lives.html
Many congratulations!
Might I suggest an online petition to deport this awful welfare-recipient woman, so that the Fatherland can be enriched by her presence once more?
Tell Theresa May at the Home Office at once!
By the way, you DO all know that there’s an, er, Adult Industry actress called Teresa May, don’t you?
This sounds, potentially, as much fun as David Davies and David Davis getting one another’s invitations.
That reminds me that I have an American colleague who was astonished to hear that John Holmes is doing vitally important work for the United Nations.
“Is he not making those movies any more then?” he asked in all innocence.
Congrats Dave. If it’s not libellous, I would like to say that my impression from observing Ms Kaschke in the court was that being accused of being peripherally involved in violent politics was the most best thing that ever happened in her life, and she’s been dining out on it ever since. I noticed that this flurry of legal activism seems to coincide with her children now being old enough not to need constant attention and her husband being demised. Time on her hands no doubt.
I know that teh emotional costs of legal hounding can be immense. A widowed friend of mine was involved in a fruitless boundary dispute for twelve years before a properly legally qualified judge threw it out, before then it had only been heard before tribunals with non-legally qualified people. (She was the defendant.). Getting costs and damages is another story, but at least the legal threat to assets and well-being is removed.
H: SouthpawPunch, the doughty fighter for the international proletariate and seeker of justice everywhere was not a supporter, due to the fact that he did not want to reveal his identity.
As for bourgoise justice, it does at times have to concord with commonsense, otherwise it becomes debased and more honoured in the breach than the observance.
From way over the other side of the political spectrum – many congratulations to you !
Congratulations on your victory…
When the courts stop ruling that legitimate strikes are illegal then I will rejoice at bourgeois justice but well done anyway.
This woman does indeed seem to have a slate missing or to bring an Osler thread onto more recognisable territory, she seems a checkpoint short of an Israeli security clampdown.
Congratulations, Dave.
Was the petty bourgois Southpaw Punch’s name Rumpelstilskin, or did he just look like him? Maybe he was really Clark Kent?
Stormtrooper Corr: I believe that that John Holmes died of AIDs a couple of years ago.
@H,
I’m pleased Olser won.
Kaschke (briefly a Left political prisoner in Germany in the 70s, who was then released without charge and later given compensation for wrongful detention) was written about wrongly by Osler, and in line with his British reformist ‘socialism’ (Athens and Bangkok show the way forward, not the rancid Labour Party.)
His errors included “Respect member’s ‘Baader-Meinhof link’” and “(she) was in the 1970s held in custody in her native Germany, charged with support for the ultraleftist Baader-Meinhof terrorist group.”
The bloke with the mound of horsehair on his head has correctly ruled that “contrary to what is said in Mr Osler’s blog, she was never “charged” with supporting that body or “linked” to it.” Eady also noted that she “produced in the course of the hearing the original German prosecutor’s document, which makes no reference to the Baader-Meinhof terrorist group.”
But Kaschke was completely wrong to sue Osler. I have no reason to disagree with Osler’s characterisation of her, or her motivations.
Whilst Southpawpunch died with the election of the coalition government, I’d be happy to revive him to set the record straight on my actions.
But I also note that cases continue against both Gray and Hilton (who I also hope win). And whilst I read Kaschke is reported as being denied leave to appeal, she also writes that she still intends to try and do this (by appealing against the decision that she can’t appeal?)
In those circumstances, unless anyone can authoritatively show that it is otherwise, and as I have little legal knowledge, it would seem reckless for me to give further details yet.
But I am ready do this, and I have promised to correct the slurs made against Southpawpunch on this site (and repeated elsewhere) as soon as I can. (And I will only know about this if the term Southpawpunch is mentioned. I don’t visit this rightwards home for odd eccentrics anymore – in a time of coalitions, isn’t the time right for this place to merge with Harry’s Place? – and came him via a Google alert).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_May
is NOT the Home Secretary
As a progressive reader of blogs I find yours thoughtful and interesting – not so keen on some of your regular posters’ diatribes! I’ve followed your accounts of this case with concern, and am relieved at the outcome. Congratulations and every good wish for some immediate relaxation and for the future of your work. If an appeal is raised to help with your legal costs I’d be glad to contribute.
Hopefully the case can be used to support the campaign for libel law reform.
Just to add my congratulations too. Remarkable this went as far as it did. Well done.
Why when the working class needs him more than ever, does the doughty campaigner for social justice, knowdn as SouthpawPunch, bow out?
Southpawpunch,
From previously reading the comments on this case, I believe that **your** past comments may have contributed to this legal action and all the hassle that Dave faced.
What do you have to say about that?
Why is SouthPaw being blamed for posting comments on a blog inviting comments?
SouthPaw I will miss your legendary polemics!
I believe that SouthPawPunch (being spelt as requested for his automatic Google alerts) is not being “blamed for posting comments”, but more for refusing to get involved in any way in supporting the case, a case which afaik was not only over a comment – and as the ruling shows, a highly guarded and cautious comment – about cherry cake, but also over one by SPP regarding the issue of terrorism. Although my blogging activities ended around this time, I assisted the case as much as possible in the background and was prepared to give evidence.
Regarding SPPs comment: it reminds me the support that Lenin had for the Labour Party. You know the quote.
And do you reckon she’s understood section 19 of the ruling or will sue over this article as well? I suspect both.
Sorry for three comments in a row, but there’s a lot of people (including libel lawyers) being compared to fascists over on her blog. At least she’s got something to write about. Keeps her occupied and all that.
I am very pleased for you.
He shoots, he scores! Well done, companero!