Sir Peter Spencer has complained to the Editor of The Sun newspaper about an article by columnist Rod Liddle in yesterday's edition.
In his column headlined: ‘Pretend disabled’ really ARE sick’, Mr Liddle describes M.E. as a newly invented illness that leaves you feeling a bit peaky for decades.
Sir Peter said: "A modicum of research would have shown that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E. states unequivocally that the reality and impact of CFS/M.E. can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions.
"No doubt Mr Liddle’s brief is to be edgy, outspoken and controversial, However, this is no excuse for breaking a basic rule of journalism, which is to get the facts right."
In his letter to the Editor, Sir Peter said remarks Mr Liddle made about 'pretend disabled' people fraudulently claiming sickness benefits and self interested charities insisting that an ever increasing proportion of the population is disabled were misleading, discriminatory and offensive.
In October last year Action for M.E. complained to the Press Complaints Commission about an article by Mr Liddle in The Spectator, but the PCC ruled that his referring to ‘malingering mentals’ was not inaccurate or discriminatory because he was expressing a personal opinion and had not named individuals.
