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UK

Police investigate Jeffrey Donaldson over alleged rape in Parliament

The Met is investigating an allegation, referred by the PSNI, of a rape inside Parliament in 2016 by a man now aged 63, understood to be former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson. No arrests have been made.

L 38% · C 15% · R 47% · 13 outlets

Left 0 · Centre-left 5 · Centre 2 · Centre-right 3 · Right 3

Sources by leanFollow the moneyMore coverage

How each side framed it

Left-leaning outlets

Facts of the allegation, plus Belfast Telegraph details (Guardian, Mirror).

Centre outlets

Centre-rated outlets headline it: “Jeffrey Donaldson to be interviewed over alleged rape inside Houses of Parliament” (BBC News); “Jailed former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson accused of raping woman inside Parliament - reports” (Sky News).

Right-leaning outlets

'Disgraced ex-MP' to be quizzed (Sun), plus a reminder of his 15-year sentence (GB News, Telegraph).

Holding the paradox

Agreed facts

The Met is investigating a referral from the PSNI, received on 13 October, of an alleged rape in 2016 inside Parliament by a man now aged 63, understood to be former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson. No arrests have been made. Donaldson was recently jailed for 15 years for historical child sex offences and is appealing.

Where claims conflict

No conflict in reporting. The allegation is unproven, and the investigation is at an early stage.

The paradox

Every side covers it in much the same way. A scandal about a politician from a small party, with no partisan payoff in Westminster, gets reported almost purely on its facts.

Sources by lean

Balanced: the same number of articles from the left, the centre and the right (up to 3 each). The bar above still counts every rated outlet we found. Bias and factual ratings come from Media Bias/Fact Check. How we balance · All ratings.

Left 2

Centre 2

Right 2

Showing 2 from each side of 13 rated outlets (L 5 / C 2 / R 6). Capped at 2 because that is all we found on the thinnest side. More coverage

Follow the money

Not yet researched. We haven't yet looked at who gains or loses financially from this story, or who funds the main voices on each side. When we do, we check company filings, the Electoral Commission donations register, lobbying registers, annual reports, InfluenceMap and OpenSecrets, and we apply the same checks to every side. How we follow the money.

Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (13 outlets)
OutletLeanOwnership & funding (MBFC)
Daily MirrorCentre-leftBritish Publishing Company Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) owns The Daily Mirror. Revenue is generated through digital advertising, print ads, and subscription fees. source
The GuardianCentre-leftThe Guardian and its companion publication, the Sunday newspaper The Observer, are owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). Scott Trust Limited was created in 1936 to ensure the editorial independence of the publications and owns Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). source
The Herald (Scotland)Centre-leftThe Glasgow Herald is published by Herald & Times Group, which is owned by Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Newsquest is the second-largest publisher in the United Kingdom, publishing 205 brands including 165 newspapers. Further, Newsquest is owned by US-based Gannett which publishes USA Today. source
The IndependentCentre-leftThe Independent is owned by Independent Print Limited, a company owned by the Lebedev family (Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev). In 2017, Saudi Businessman Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel bought a 30% stake in the Independent online newspaper. Advertising and subscription generate revenue for the paper..push({}); source
The National (Scotland)Centre-leftThe National is operated by Newsquest Media Group Ltd., a UK-based local media publisher. Newsquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc., the media company formerly known as Gannett Company, which also controls AZthe USA TODAY Network of national and local news outlets in the United States and regional titles in the United Kingdom. Revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales source
BBC NewsCentreThe BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. source
Sky NewsCentreSky News is owned by Comcast as of November 2018 and is funded through advertising. Rupert Murdoch is no longer affiliated with Sky News UK; however, Newscorp still has a share of Sky News Australia, which reports with a right-leaning bias. source
Evening StandardCentre-rightThe newspaper is majority-owned by Russian businessman and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev and the Daily Mail and General Trust. Revenue is generated through advertising. source
ITV NewsCentre-rightNo ownership data found
The TimesCentre-rightThe Times and Sunday Times is owned by News UK (News Corp UK & Ireland Limited), which American News Corp owns. The owner and Executive Chairman of News Corp are Rupert Murdoch. Revenue is derived from advertising and subscription fees. source
GB NewsRightGB News lacks transparency as they do not disclose ownership. A search reveals that London-based ALL Perspectives Ltd owns GB News. According to Reuters, the television channel “secured millions of dollars from investors such as Discovery Inc, Legatum and hedge fund manager Paul Marshall. source
The SunRightThe Sun is published by the News Group Newspapers division of News UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The paper generates revenue through advertising, newsstand sales, and subscriptions. source
The TelegraphRightTelegraph Media Group (TMG) owns The Telegraph, which is owned by Press Acquisitions Ltd., which in turn is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay. In 2004, Twin Brothers Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph from the Canadian media company Hollinger Inc. for £665 million. For a complete list of Board members, see here. source