Stephen Lloyd MP to appeal election defamation ruling
An East Sussex MP is to appeal against a High Court ruling that a claim about his predecessor in an election campaign pamphlet was defamatory.
A leaflet produced by Liberal Democrat Stephen Lloyd during the 2010 election made comments about Conservative Nigel Waterson's expenses.
Mr Waterson, who lost his Eastbourne seat to Mr Lloyd, was cleared of any wrongdoing over his expenses claims.
Mr Lloyd now has until 11 January to lodge an appeal.
Mr Waterson started defamation proceedings in December 2010 following the use by the Stephen Lloyd campaign of news reports in Liberal Democrat election newspapers.
Lawyers said such news reports were used despite the fact that Mr Waterson's expenses claims for a second home in outer London "were clearly proper and within the rules".
Following the judgement, Mr Lloyd said the ruling was "highly technical".
The High Court damages and costs have yet to be decided.