Lord Black vows: I will return to London

Conrad Black, the beleaguered former owner of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator, has vowed, in a letter to The Independent on Sunday, that he will return to London. The Canadian is fighting Hollinger International wrangles and civil fraud charges filed by the US regulator, which he strongly denies.

Conrad Black, the beleaguered former owner of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator, has vowed, in a letter to The Independent on Sunday, that he will return to London. The Canadian is fighting Hollinger International wrangles and civil fraud charges filed by the US regulator, which he strongly denies.

Responding from his base in Toronto to a story in last week's Business section, Lord Black of Crossharbour says: "Contrary to widespread confected belief in the UK media, I am physically and legally well and looking forward to returning to London when I have resolved this controversy, reassured each day that there is life after the British national newspaper industry."

His promise to return to Britain is prefaced with sideswipes at coverage of his troubles. "I know how addicted much of the British media is to the view that I am at the centre of an immense scandal," he writes. "But after 15 months, there has been no such finding and only rather sensational allegations that don't progress very far legally. At some point, some in the British press may want to consider how fairly and insightfully they have covered this story."

Lord Black retains some loyalty in Canada, where last year he was again named business newsmaker of the year.