Clark `diaries' misleading

The presentation of a parody of Alan Clark's Diaries in the London Evening Standard newspaper gave the impression that it was written by the Conservative MP, the High Court was told yesterday.

Geoffrey Hobbs QC, his counsel, said in a closing submission that the title, Alan Clark's Secret Diary, together with a photograph of him accompanying the column, amounted to false attribution of authorship. He said the "standfirst", in which the Standard said the diary was written by one of its journalists, Peter Bradshaw, did not clarify the situation.

Judgment will be given next week in the case, in which Mr Clark is seeking an injunction and damages.