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Actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox denies being a racist

By Paul Gribben

BBC News

Laurence Fox has been described as "an intelligent racist with an agenda" on the opening day of a libel trial with two people he called paedophiles.

The actor-turned-politician is being sued by ex-Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal over an online row in October 2020.

Mr Fox called Mr Blake and the ex-contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race - real name Colin Seymour - "paedophiles".

He denies being a racist and claims he lost his acting agent over the row.

The dispute followed a decision by Sainsbury's to celebrate Black History Month and provide a safe space for black employees.

After Mr Fox called for a boycott of the supermarket, he was described as "a racist" by Mr Blake and Mr Seymour, and by actress Nicola Thorp, in their own posts on Twitter, now known as X.

Mr Fox is counter-suing these three people over their tweets, claiming they damaged his reputation.

Lorna Skinner KC, representing Mr Blake, Mr Seymour and Ms Thorp, said the three "honestly believed, and continue honestly to believe, that Mr Fox is a racist".