Geoff Webster (born Geoffrey B. Webster; 1959)[1] is the deputy editor of The Sun newspaper in the UK (currently suspended due to criminal charges brought under Operation Elveden).[2][3][4]
Move to the Sun newspaper
In 2003 the deputy editor of the News of the World, Rebekah Brooks, was appointed editor of the Sun newspaper. Shortly after arriving Brooks moved Webster from his job as associate editor/head of pictures at the News of the World, appointing him associate editor at the Sun, effectively making him "third in command" on the paper.[5]
Promotion
Webster was promoted to joint deputy editor of the Sun, along with Simon Cosyns, when David Dinsmore replaced Brooks as editor in 2009.[6]
Webster's arrest in February 2012 prompted Rupert Murdoch to fly to London to reassure the staff that he would not be closing down the newspaper.[7] Writing in The Guardian, Roy Greenslade described Murdoch's meeting with the staff:
"Though some reports suggested soon after the 6 March meeting that he [Rupert Murdoch] had won over the assembled staff, I was told the opposite. ... They were not in the least bit mollified by what he had to say. ... It was a hugely emotional occasion. Former managing editor Graham Dudman – the major spokesman on behalf of his colleagues – eventually broke down in tears. This followed the reading – by agony aunt Deidre Sanders – of a letter written by Alison Webster, the Page 3 photographer who is married to deputy editor Geoff Webster (who attended the meeting)."[10]
Webster was supported by several colleagues, and his wife, when he appeared in court.[11] He pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey and was given unconditional bail.[1] On 20 March 2015, Webster was cleared of charges that he had signed off illegal payments.[12]
^ abc"Operation Elveden: CPS Charging Decision Operation Elveden: CPS Charging Decision". Crown Prosecution Service. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013. We have concluded, following a careful review of the evidence, that Geoff Webster, who at the time of the alleged offending was Deputy Editor of The Sun newspaper, should be charged with two offences of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
