The world-governing body of motorsport has appointed a leading QC to provide
it with an opinion as to whether its president, Max Mosley, was involved in
Nazi-style role play during a sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes.
Anthony Scrivener, QC, has been asked by senior officers of the Fédération
Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to provide an analysis of allegations
published in the News of the World that have led to widespread calls for Mr
Mosley to resign.
The organisation did not reveal who had come up with the idea of appointing Mr
Scrivener but said that he would provide an opinion on whether the newspaper
was right to describe as “inspired by the Nazis” what appeared to be
prison-camp routines in which some of the prostitutes were wearing German
military uniforms.
Mr Mosley, the son of the Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, is facing an
extraordinary general meeting of the FIA in Paris on June 3 when his future
will be decided in a secret ballot of all 222 voting members.
It is thought that Mr Scrivener’s opinion will be available to members on that
day to help them to decide whether he should resign.
In a statement issued last night the FIA said: “Senior officers of the FIA
have appointed Anthony Scrivener, QC, as an independent expert to undertake
a full analysis of the available evidence relating to allegations in the
News of the World that Mr Mosley was involved in ‘Nazi-style’ activities. Mr
Mosley has welcomed this appointment.”
The News of the World first published allegations about Mr Mosley’s part in
the orgy five weeks ago. After he denied the claim that there was a Nazi
element in the bondage session, the paper quoted one of the prostitutes the
following week, alleging that not only did Mr Mosley know the session would
have a Nazi theme but that he specifically ordered this.
Mr Mosley has denied this and is taking legal action against the News of the
World for invasion of privacy. He has also hired Lord Stevens of
Kirkwhelpington, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to ascertain
whether he was the victim of a conspiracy to destroy his reputation. Mr
Mosley took the decision to hire the security company Quest, of which Lord
Stevens is chairman, because he believes that he has been the victim of an
attempt to destroy him and that a “specialist group” was employed to trap
him by a “client” whose identity had yet to be revealed.
Mr Scrivener, 72, is a former chairman of the Bar Council who was once tipped
to become a Labour Lord Chancellor. He has represented a number of prominent
clients, including Dame Shirley Porter, the former Conservative leader of
Westminster Council; Gerry Conlon in his successful appeal against
conviction for the Guildford pub bombing; Winston Silcott, who was charged
and then cleared of killing PC Keith Blakelock; Lee Clegg, the British
paratrooper who was eventually cleared of charges over a shooting in
Northern Ireland; the former Guinness chief Ernest Saunders; and Tony
Martin, who shot a burglar. In 2005 Mr Scrivener was approached to lead
Saddam Hussein’s defence team, but never worked on the case.
There are plenty of things the good Mr Scrivener could be looking in to ... particularly as his legal practice at 2-3 Grays Inn Square specialises in defamation ( amongst other things )
Interesting to see that he conducts work in Malaysia
Suffice to say: He's welcome to call me at any time.
Graham Fudger, Watford, UK
Is the FIA suggesting it’s acceptable for the man who presides over its judicial and penal proceedings to be a practising sadist provided the prostitutes he lashes for his sexual gratification don’t wear swastikas on their costumes when they enact fantasies celebrating concentration camps in German?
Douglas, London,, England, U.K.
This story is quite silly really.
As long as these events took place with consenting adults and no one was hurt, I really don't see why ANY fetish should be news-worthy.
Mark Dempsy, Bristol,
Dale, I too saw Have I got news for you and picked up on the spanky Mosley comment.
Smells like a fix to me, as it does to the others posting here. Isn't justice about a jury? Isn't that what those voting @ the FIA meeting supposed to be?
The FIA & Mosley are nothing but a sham & inept dishonest lot
Stelmara, Reading, UK
The essence of nazism was the death camps: the dehumanising uniforms, the invasive examinations, the brutality - all of these were present. But an FIA lawyer will find ways around this and will ignore the Luftwaffe uniforms. Someone Scrivener's age can have no doubt of the meaning of the playacting.
Derek Smith, Brighton, UK
The proverb 'the apple does not fall far from the tree' seems quite true in this case.
victor arram, westcliff,
So 'spanky Mosley' (mentioned on this weeks 'Have I got news for you') has got the FIA to appoint Mr Scrivener re the Nazi element (Y-R the FIA not capable of making up their own minds after seeing the tapes?
Clever Mosley tries 2 deflect the issue of his perversions re the S&M & unnatural sex acts!
Dale, Wokingham, England
It's always sad to see someone clinging on to a job that they should have abandoned gracefully.
Whether or his activities were 'nazi-style' is irrelevent. Mr Mosley is bringing a great sport into disrepute.
Perhaps he should move into politics, he should fit in well..
Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire
It is vital that the FIA reveals to the public the source of this absurd idea. The fact that, despite his obvious conflict of interest, Scrivener' is prepared to accept such a role and that Mosely welcomes it, says it all. No-one should expect anything other than a disgraceful but futile whitewash!
Tony, London, UK
Laughable, just laughable. If hiring Mr Scriviner is meant to silence worldwide fears about Ferrari International Assistance protecting Spanky Max, instead, they have managed to insult the intelligence of eveyone interested in the issue. Wake up FIA, It's about TRUST, HONESTY and HYPOCRISY not sex.
peter, cardiff, uk
the fact is if he was the head of any other organisation he'd have to go - can you imagine the PM, head of the FA or any multi-national surviving this? Only F1 could spend several months debating the precise nature of a peversion. Shame on the lot of them, hopefully sponsors will run a mile.
Philip , Surrey,
Not hard to determine that the 'old boy's club' has decided to try to help out one of their own. Strange thing, 'connections' and of course money. It's very enlightening in this day and age to comprehend what one can buy, if one is 'deep enough' in the 'know'.
Biscuit with that tea Max?
R. P. Dixon., London,
Has noone in the press made the connection with the fact that Mr Scrivener is a Steward, and a judge on the FiA's own court of appeal? How can he be viewed as independent?
I am sure he is a punctilious man, but for the FiA to appoint one of its own to conduct such an enquiry is PR madness.
Michael, Cairo,
How on earth can a pay-for-hire barrister who is a member of the FIA's Court of Appeal be an "independent expert" and was Mr Mosley behind this "welcomed" move? A married man playing with 5 prostitutes a German "facility" guard torturing women prisoners is still repulsive even if he is not a Nazi!
lisa, London,
I seem to recall how comedian Freddie Starr would often dress as Adolf Hitler in his comedy sketches. Good job hes retired or he would be either shot or in jail now. This world has taker a turn for the surreal.
Cromwell, Leeds, England