Weapons expert Dan Kaszeta launches legal action against government speaker ‘blacklist’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It states that to “ensure impartiality must carry out due diligence checks on all external speakers invited to events”, adding: “Networks and their members must complete such checks to avoid any invitations being issued to individuals and/or organisations that have provided adverse commentary on government policy, political decisions, approaches or individuals in government that could undermine our position on impartiality and create reputational damage. In response to a parliamentary question last month, Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin suggested it targeted “abhorrent organisations” and people who “could cause embarrassment to the civil service”. “We do not hold a central record of speakers identified as unsuitable, but I trust that the number will be very few.” A pre-action protocol letter sent by Mr Kaszeta’s lawyers to the Cabinet Office asked for confirmation that he was not considered to “fall within the category of ‘abhorrent organisations or individuals who promote hate or discriminatory beliefs’”. Mr Kaszeta is represented by Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory, who said: “Our client is a world-renowned expert in defence against chemical and nuclear weapons but the government decided he should not address a civil service conference because on social media he criticised government policy in an entirely unrelated field.