A high-profile lawyer has been instructed to pursue claims against a barrister after he was accused of being behind a pro-Jeremy Corbyn Twitter account that has regularly downplayed Labour antisemitism and allegedly harassed people outspoken about Jew-hate on the platform.
The JC understands that Mark Lewis, who came to prominence representing the victims of phone hacking, is to pursue a claim against Daniel Bennett, of Doughty Street Chambers, on behalf of a number of individuals from the Jewish community.
It comes after Mr Bennett claimed he was no longer “involved” with the @arrytuttle Twitter account, which is a well-known antagonist of antisemitism campaigners online.
It has tweeted support for Gilad Atzmon, the notorious antisemite and Holocaust revisionist, as well as suspended Labour MP Chris Williamson.
The account was deleted after another Twitter account @TwelveScouts revealed the similarities between @arrytuttle and Mr Bennett.
Meet Harry Tuttle (arryTuttle). That's not his real name. Harry Tuttle is the Robert De Niro character in the bureaucracy satirising film Brazil. Edgy. pic.twitter.com/t5OxsEsLsJ
— Twelve Scouts (@TwelveScouts) July 9, 2019
The @TwelveScouts account shared evidence of @arrytuttle referring to being a barrister from Bristol who specialises in workplace injury claims, was in Liverpool in the late 80s and went to Jewish school.
Mr Bennett is a barrister in Bristol, specialises in workplace injuries attended King David High School in Liverpool, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Mr Bennett told the JC by email: “I am currently on holiday so am not sure what is going on. Many people run that account and I have not been involved in it for years.”
As this article went live, Mr Bennett had not responded to follow up questions.
The account has interacted with others on Twitter and claimed to be Jewish as recently as three months ago.
Simon Myerson, a QC said: “I was told he was Jewish less than 2 months ago. Are they all Jewish?
“Less than 3 months ago he suggested that someone complained about me to my regulator. Are they all barristers?”
The account also referred to being a barrister who specialised in personal injury claims as recently as October 2018 and is known to have attacked Jewish QCs Adam Wagner and David Wolfson.
The JC understands that Mr Lewis has notified Mr Bennett that he has been instructed to “pursue libel and harassment claims against you in respect of your tweets” and that he has been reminded of his “obligation to preserve data which will be Discoverable.
"That will include Twitter Analytics.”
Mr Bennett’s name appeared on a letter published in the Guardian this week that was purportedly from "prominent members of the Jewish community" declaring their support for Mr Williamson, whom Labour suspended over accusations of “Jew-baiting” with his repeated interventions in the antisemitism crisis.
The paper took the letter down after the Board of Deputies complained it had been "misleading and inaccurate in its description of the signatories, some have been suspended or expelled from the Labour Party and one of whom has called for Zionists to be exterminated".
A new Twitter account set up on Wednesday under the name Daniel Bennett apologised “unreservedly for any offence caused by the account @arrytuttle”.
It tweeted it had spoken to Mr Wolfson and Mr Wagner and wanted “confirm that I do not support or endorse any attacks on them”.
The new account added: “This account was set up in 2010 to counter allegations in media against locals in a Town Green dispute concerning Bristol City FC. The anonymity was necessary due to threats from supporters. The dispute ended in a out 2013. Since then the account has drifted with many involved.”
I have spoken today to @DXWQC with whom I was at school and emailed @AdamWagner1 with whom I work. I wish to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused to them by the account @arrytuttle and confirm that I do not support or endorse any attacks on them
— Daniel Bennett (@DanielB98410733) July 10, 2019
The new account added: “This account was set up in 2010 to counter allegations in media against locals in a Town Green dispute concerning Bristol City FC.
"The anonymity was necessary due to threats from supporters. The dispute ended in a out 2013. Since then the account has drifted with many involved.”
This account was set up in 2010 to counter allegations in media against locals in a Town Green dispute concerning Bristol City FC. The anonymity was necessary due to threats from supporters. The dispute ended in a out 2013. Since then the account has drifted with many involved
— Daniel Bennett (@DanielB98410733) July 10, 2019
The account told Mr Wolfson the tweets sent by @arrytuttle to him were "not written or authorised by me and not with my knowledge."
