Lord Alan Sugar receives £20,000 payout after Daily Mail article calling him a ‘spiv’

The business mogul plans to donate the money to charity

Alan Sugar (Getty)

Lord Alan Sugar has received a £20,000 payment from the Daily Mail after the newspaper printed a "clarification" over an article calling him a “spiv”.

The Apprentice star posed with a picture of a fake lottery-style ‘cheque’ on Twitter for £20,000, which is 'signed' by Paul Dacre, the newspaper's editor.

Lord Sugar said he would donate the money to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

In a clarification published on Monday, the Mail said: “An article published on 26 May described Lord Sugar as a ‘spiv’. This word may be understood to describe a person who is dishonest in his business dealings. We are happy to confirm that this was not the intended meaning, as indeed the article stated he is honest and hard working.”

The Independent understands the Mail made the voluntary payment to cover Lord Sugar’s legal fees on the basis that a proportion was donated to charity.

The Mail declined to comment.