Endlessly personal
Sir: Your little barmy army at The Spectator aren't much troubled by facts in trying to do down the Guardian. In the latest of his endless personal attacks on Alan Rus- bridger (Media studies, 31 October). Stephen Glover talks nonsense in his hints that Mohammed Fayed knows some shameful secret about the Guardian. If he does know one, what is it?
On this desk here, I have recently been receiving regular furious missives from Mr Fayed complaining about the Guardian's robust reporting of disclosures about him in Tom Bower's recent hostile book. I think you can safely assume that if Mr Fayed knew some horrible secret concerning the Guardian, you and the rest of the world would have got to hear about it by now. David Leigh
The Guardian, 199 Farringdon Road, London EC1
Stephen Glover writes: David Leigh is wrong in his characteristically charming letter to say that what I have written about his editor (and brother-in-law) Alan Rusbridger is personal. I have met Mr Rusbridger a few times and I rather like him. My criticism of the Guardian's conduct is not ad hominem. Mr Leigh seeks to undermine argument by saying that it is.
He also misrepresents what I wrote last week. I did not suggest Mohammed Al Fayed was likely to reveal some horrible secret concerning the Guardian'. I asked whether 'there is evidence still to emerge about the Guardian's relationship with Mr Al Fayed which will shame [the] newspa- per?' The issue is whether the paper com- promised its integrity in its reliance on a proven liar. I would be surprised if Mr Al Fayed provided further insights, but others might.
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