The Independent opinion piece, on UK Politics, 13 November 2026
We do not republish articles from The Independent. Our findings are below, each quoting the words it is about. Read the full article on the outlet's own site.
Read the original article on independent.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Charlotte Proudman argues that the allegations against David Walliams show why England needs a graduated age of consent and stronger grooming laws. She keeps the allegations attributed to the ITV News and Guardian investigation and gives his denial. Nothing in the piece misleads its reader on the grounds an opinion column is judged by.
Opinion piece: read for false claims of fact and for fairness to the people it names, not for its opinions.
“An investigation by ITV News and The Guardian reported allegations that Walliams used his celebrity status to pursue teenage girls and young women.”
The column names the source of the allegations and presents them as reported allegations, not as established fact about a named person.
“Walliams denies grooming, sexual misconduct and any criminal wrongdoing.”
It gives Walliams's denial straight after the allegations, so a reader knows what is claimed against him and what he says in reply.
“But outside those circumstances, a substantial age difference does not itself make a sexual relationship unlawful.”
It states the current law accurately, including the positions of trust exception, before arguing for change, so the argument rests on a correct account of the law.
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