Lord McAlpine is suing the Speaker's wife Sally Bercow for £50,000 over an allegedly libellous tweet that he claims wrongly linked him to claims of child abuse, her lawyers told ITV News.
I am disappointed that the press has become aware of the proceedings between Lord McAlpine and Sally Bercow.
However, I am still hopeful that we will be able to reach a sensible agreement to settle this matter with the second set of solicitors, instructed by Mrs Bercow, without the need to proceed to a trial.
We have no further comment to make, and do not intend to deal with this issue through the media.
Speaker's wife being sued for £50,000 over McAlpine tweet
A spokesman for the legal firm Carter Ruck has told ITV News: 'Lord McAlpine has issued and served proceedings for libel against Sally Bercow and we are representing her.
"He has put in a claim limited to £50,000."
The peer alleges that the Commons Speaker's wife posted a libellous tweet that wrongly linked him to child abuse.
Sally Bercow receives a legal letter from Lord McAlpine
Sally Bercow had tweeted "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*" Credit: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire
ITV News understands that the wife of the House of Commons Speaker has received a legal letter from Conservative peer Lord McAlpine today.
It comes after his solicitor said letters would be sent to individuals who mentioned the peer's name on the internet, particularly on Twitter, in relation to false accusations of child abuse.
Andrew Reid, Lord McAlpine's solicitor, said that legal letters would be sent to individuals who mentioned the peer's name on the internet, particularly on Twitter, in relation to false accusations of child abuse against the former Tory treasurer.
