Editing Daily Express (section)

==Controversies==
{{criticism section|date=February 2025}}
===John Bodkin Adams===
Suspected [[serial killer]] [[John Bodkin Adams]] was arrested in 1956, accused of murdering up to 400 wealthy patients in [[Eastbourne]].<ref name=Cullen>{{cite book|last=Cullen|first=Pamela V. Halliday|title=A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams|date=2006|publisher=Elliott & Thompson|location=London|isbn=1-904027-19-9}}</ref> The press, "egged on by police leaks, unanimously declared Adams guilty," except for [[Percy Hoskins]], chief crime reporter for the ''Express''.<ref name=Hoskins>''Two Men Were Acquitted: The trial and acquittal of Doctor John Bodkin Adams'', Secker & Warburg, 1984</ref> Hoskins was adamant that Adams was a naive doctor prosecuted by an overzealous detective, [[Herbert Hannam]], whom Hoskins disliked from previous cases.<ref name=Hoskins/> The ''Express'', under Hoskins's direction, was the only major paper to defend Adams, causing [[Lord Beaverbrook]] to question Hoskins's stance.<ref name=Hoskins/>

Adams was cleared in 1957 of the murder of [[Edith Alice Morrell]] (a second count was withdrawn controversially). After the case, Beaverbrook phoned Hoskins and said: "Two people were acquitted today", meaning Hoskins as well.<ref name=Hoskins/> The ''Express'' carried an exclusive interview with Adams, whom Hoskins interviewed in a safe house away from other newspapers. According to archives released in 2003, Adams was thought by police to have killed 163 patients.<ref name=Cullen/>

===Dunblane===
{{main|Sunday Express Dunblane controversy}}
On 8 March 2009, the Scottish edition of the ''Sunday Express'' published a front-page article critical of survivors of the 1996 [[Dunblane massacre]], entitled "Anniversary Shame of Dunblane Survivors". The article criticised the 18-year-old survivors for posting "shocking blogs and photographs of themselves on the internet", revealing that they drank alcohol, made rude gestures and talked about their sex lives.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Luft|first1=Oliver|last2=Carrell|first2=Severin|date=23 March 2009|title=Scottish Sunday Express apologises for Dunblane survivors story|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/23/scottish-sunday-express-dunblane-apology|access-date=3 February 2016|website=[[The Guardian]]|archive-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220044638/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/23/scottish-sunday-express-dunblane-apology|url-status=live}}</ref> The article provoked complaints, leading to a front-page apology a [[fortnight]] later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/90417|title=Dunblane: We're Sorry|work=Sunday Express|date=22 March 2009|access-date=16 March 2010|archive-date=25 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325101003/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/90417|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Press Complaints Commission]] described the article as a "serious error of judgement" and said, "Although the editor had taken steps to resolve the complaint, and rightly published an apology, the breach of the Code was so serious that no apology could remedy it".{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Diana, Princess of Wales===
The ''Daily Express'' gained a reputation for printing [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales conspiracy theories|conspiracy theories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales]] as front-page news. ''[[The Independent]]'' and ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2006 both published a selection of then recent ''Express'' headlines on the topic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jack|first=Louise|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-express-and-diana-cover-ups-spies-and-conspiracies-429277.html|title=''The Express'' and Diana: Cover-ups, spies and conspiracies|work=The Independent|date=18 December 2006|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925093951/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-express-and-diana-coverups-spies-and-conspiracies-429277.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/may/09/pressandpublishing.themonarchy|title=Any old Diana headline here|work=The Guardian|date=9 May 2006|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831002447/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/may/09/pressandpublishing.themonarchy|url-status=live}}</ref> This practice was satirised in ''[[Private Eye]]'' as the ''Diana Express'' or the ''Di'ly Express'', and has been attributed to Desmond's friendship with regular ''Eye'' target [[Mohamed Al Fayed|Mohamed Fayed]].<ref group=note>For instance in the "Hackwatch" column of ''Private Eye'' #1174, 19 December 2006.</ref> The articles regularly quoted Fayed with the newspaper describing its campaign as "Our relentless crusade for the truth".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gregory|first=Martyn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZPJjwm6ITMC&pg=PT141|title=Diana: The Last Days|location=London|publisher=Virgin Books|year=2007|page=141|isbn=978-0-7535-4431-0|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=16 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516225826/https://books.google.com/books?id=vZPJjwm6ITMC&pg=PT141#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006 and 2007, these front-page stories consistently appeared on Mondays, and ended only when the paper focused instead on the [[Madeleine McCann]] story (see below).

According to ''[[The Independent]]'' in 2006: "The Diana stories appear on Mondays because Sunday is often a quiet day."<ref name="Independent Hill">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/peter-hill-an-appetite-for-battle-467118.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416073750/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/peter-hill-an-appetite-for-battle-467118.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2008|title=Peter Hill: An appetite for battle|date=20 February 2006|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|first=Raymond|last=Snoddy|access-date=11 June 2014}}</ref> In February and March 2010, the paper returned to featuring Diana stories on the front page on Mondays.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

In September 2013, following an allegation raised by the estranged wife of an [[Special Air Service|SAS]] operative, the ''Daily Express'' returned to running daily Princess Diana cover stories.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/428276/SAS-quizzed-over-Diana-death|title=SAS quizzed over Diana death|newspaper=Daily Express|date=10 September 2013|first=John|last=Twomey|access-date=11 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714161316/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/428276/SAS-quizzed-over-Diana-death|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429017/Army-slated-for-not-taking-allegations-of-SAS-aided-Diana-death-seriously|title=Army slated for not taking allegations of SAS aided death seriously|newspaper=Daily Express|date=13 September 2013|access-date=11 June 2014|first1=John|last1=Twomey|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715015019/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429017/Army-slated-for-not-taking-allegations-of-SAS-aided-Diana-death-seriously|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429312/EXCLUSIVE-How-David-Cameron-knew-of-Princess-Diana-murder-plot|title=How David Cameron knew of Princess Diana murder plot|newspaper=Daily Express|date=14 September 2013|access-date=11 June 2014|first1=John|last1=Twomey|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001312/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429312/EXCLUSIVE-How-David-Cameron-knew-of-Princess-Diana-murder-plot|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429536/EXCLUSIVE-SAS-s-lamping-unit-used-laser-to-dazzle-Princess-Diana-s-driver|title=SAS's lamping unit used laser to dazzle Diana's driver|newspaper=Daily Express|date=15 September 2013|access-date=11 June 2014|first1=Donal|last1=MacIntyre|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233820/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429536/EXCLUSIVE-SAS-s-lamping-unit-used-laser-to-dazzle-Princess-Diana-s-driver|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429799/Soldier-s-claim-SAS-ordered-to-kill-Princess-Diana-ups-pressure-for-murder-investigation|title=Soldier's claim SAS ordered to kill Princess Diana ups pressure for murder investigation|newspaper=Daily Express|date=16 September 2013|access-date=11 June 2014|first=Giles|last=Sheldrick|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715005959/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/429799/Soldier-s-claim-SAS-ordered-to-kill-Princess-Diana-ups-pressure-for-murder-investigation|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Madeleine McCann===
In the second half of 2007 the ''Daily Express'' gave a large coverage to the [[disappearance of Madeleine McCann]]. From 3 August 2007 to 10 November 2007, the ''Express'' dedicated at least part of the next 100 front pages to her. Of those, 82 used the headline to feature the details of the disappearance (often stylised by "MADELEINE" in red block capitals, plus a picture of the child).

Though the family initially said some journalists may have "overstepped their mark" they acknowledged the benefits in keeping the case in the public eye,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=3587167&page=4 | title=From Victims to Villains | work=ABC News | date=12 September 2007 | access-date=27 June 2020 | archive-date=29 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729011642/https://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=3587167&page=4 | url-status=live }}</ref> but said coverage needed to be toned down since daily headlines were not necessarily helpful.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1644291.0.i_dont_think_necessarily_having_newspaper_headlines_with_the_image_of_madeleine_being_thrust_on_to_people_every_single_day_helps_clearly_we_have_seen_irresponsible_reporting.php | title=I don't think necessarily having newspaper headlines with the image of Madeleine being thrust on to people every single day helps. Clearly we have seen irresponsible reporting. | work=Sunday Herald | date=26 August 2007}}{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> In March 2008, the McCanns launched a [[libel]] suit against the ''Daily Express'' and the ''[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]'', as well as their Sunday equivalents, following their coverage. The action concerned more than 100 stories across the four newspapers, which accused the McCanns of causing and covering up their daughter's death.<ref name="Damages due"/> Express Newspapers pulled all references to Madeleine from its websites.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holmwood |first=Leigh |title=Express titles cut back McCann coverage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/13/pressandpublishing.dailyexpress |newspaper=The Guardian |location=UK |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=17 March 2008 |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516225830/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/13/pressandpublishing.dailyexpress |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a settlement at the [[High Court of Justice]], the newspapers ran a front-page apology to the McCanns on 19 March 2008, another apology on the front of the Sunday editions of 23 March and a statement of apology at the High Court. The newspapers also agreed to pay costs and damages, which the McCanns said they would use to fund the search for their daughter.<ref name="Damages due">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm |title=Damages due over McCann stories |publisher=BBC News |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=19 March 2008 |archive-date=21 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321080011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Guardian'' media commentator [[Roy Greenslade]] said it was "unprecedented" for four major newspapers to offer front-page apologies but also said it was more than warranted given that the papers had committed "a substantial libel" that shamed the British press.<ref>{{cite news |author=Roy Greenslade |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2008/mar/19/expressandstarapologiesto |title=Express and Star apologies to McCanns bring all journalism into disrepute |work=The Guardian |access-date=1 June 2015 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220212636/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2008/mar/19/expressandstarapologiesto |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Craig Silverman]] of ''Regret the Error'',  a blog that reports media errors, argued that given how many of the stories appeared on the front page, anything less than a front-page apology would have been "unacceptable".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regrettheerror.com/2008/03/19/daily-express-daily-star-issue-front-page-apologies-pay-damages |title=Poynter |work=Regret the Error |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231045139/http://www.regrettheerror.com/2008/03/19/daily-express-daily-star-issue-front-page-apologies-pay-damages/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In its apology, the ''Express'' said "a number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up. We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/38490 |title=Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry |work=Daily Express |location=UK |date=19 March 2008 |access-date=19 March 2008 |archive-date=23 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323232437/http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/38490 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed in October by an apology and payout (forwarded to the fund again) to a group who had become known as the "[[Tapas Seven]]" in relation to the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7673148.stm |title=Libel payout for McCann friends |publisher=BBC News |date=16 October 2008 |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416001330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7673148.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Accusations of xenophobia and hate speech ===
In 2013, the paper launched a "crusade" against new [[European Union]] rules on migrants from Bulgaria and Romania, inviting readers to sign a petition against lifting restrictions on immigration.<ref>'Join our Crusade today ...', ''Daily Express'', page 4, 31 October 2013</ref><ref>'This time let us keep the floodgates closed', ''Daily Express'', page 14, 31 October 2013</ref> The front page on Thursday 31 October declared: "Britain is full and fed up. Today join your ''Daily Express'' Crusade to stop new flood of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants".<ref>'Britain is full up and fed up', ''Daily Express'', page 1, 31 October 2013</ref> The [[Aberystwyth University]] Student Union announced a ban on the sale of the paper.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/07/aberystwyth-daily-express_n_4234113.html |title=Aberystwyth University Student Union Bans The Daily Express |work=Huffington Post UK |access-date=18 May 2015 |date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=25 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625063008/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/07/aberystwyth-daily-express_n_4234113.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This ban was overturned in March 2016, following a student vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102936&headline=Students%20vote%20overwhemlingly%20to%20revoke%20ban%20on%20newspapers&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016 |title=Students vote overwhemlingly to revoke ban on newspapers |work=Cambrian News |date=15 March 2016 |first=Chris |last=Betteley |location=Aberystwyth |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-date=7 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707141346/http://cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102936&headline=Students%20vote%20overwhemlingly%20to%20revoke%20ban%20on%20newspapers&sectionIs=News&searchyear=2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[UKIP]] Leader [[Nigel Farage]] declared that he had signed the "Crusade" petition, and urged others to do the same.<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Nigel Farage |last=Farage |first=Nigel |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/440538/I-ve-signed-the-Express-petition-you-should-too-Remember-it-ll-be-Albanians-next |date=1 November 2013 |title=I've signed the Express petition – you should too! Remember, it'll be Albanians next... |work=Daily Express |location=London |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503064334/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/440538/I-ve-signed-the-Express-petition-you-should-too-Remember-it-ll-be-Albanians-next |url-status=live }}</ref> Romanian politician [[Cătălin Ivan]] expressed "outrage" at the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Max |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/441065/Romanian-MEP-orders-Daily-Express-to-stop-our-campaign-to-halt-EU-migration |title=Romanian MEP orders Daily Express to 'stop' our campaign to halt EU migration |work=Daily Express |location=London |date=4 November 2013 |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801112255/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/441065/Romanian-MEP-orders-Daily-Express-to-stop-our-campaign-to-halt-EU-migration |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a statement released by The [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (OHCHR) on 24 April 2015, the tabloid's name was mentioned in an accusation of producing [[hate speech]], initially referring to an article in [[The Sun (United Kingdom)|''The Sun'']]: "...To give just one glimpse of the scale of the problem, back in 2003 the ''Daily Express'' ran 22 negative front pages stories about asylum seekers and refugees in a single 31-day period" ... "..the High Commissioner noted that Article 20 of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights|ICCPR]], as well as elements relating to [[hate speech]] in the [[International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination]]* (both of which have been ratified by the UK, as well as by all other EU countries), were rooted in the desire to outlaw the type of anti-Semitic and other racially based hate speech used by the Nazi media during the 1930s".<ref>{{cite press release |author=UNOHCHR |url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15885 |date=24 April 2015 |title=UN Human Rights Chief urges U.K. to tackle tabloid hate speech, after migrants were called "cockroaches" |publisher=United Nations |location=Geneva |access-date=25 June 2017 |archive-date=27 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527081257/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15885 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Appearing in April 2018 before [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]'s [[Home Affairs Select Committee]], which was investigating the treatment of minority groups in print media, ''Daily Express'' editor Gary Jones said that he would be looking to change the tone of the paper. Jones said that he had found past pages of the newspaper "downright offensive", adding that they made him feel "very uncomfortable" and contributed to an "[[Islamophobia in the United Kingdom|Islamophobic]] sentiment" in the media.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/24/daily-express-editor-gary-jones-calls-its-front-pages-downright-offensive |title=Daily Express editor calls its front pages 'downright offensive' |first=Jim |last=Waterson |date=24 April 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=24 April 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516225830/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/24/daily-express-editor-gary-jones-calls-its-front-pages-downright-offensive |url-status=live }}</ref>