With apologies to everyone else, I've decided that when Gareth makes idiotic allegations about me, knowing I've denied them, and knowing he can produce not a shred of evidence, I'll try to deal with them in the same threads. (If I overlook any of his challenges to me, I'd appreciate someone - anyone - drawing them to my attention, as has just happened in this instance.)

CarolC took this approach when Gareth tried similar abusive tactics on her, and it was very effective. He shut up, and then sidled back into the thread as though he'd never had an issue with her. (Anyone who wants to see what I mean, might start at this post of Gareth's. Sorry, it takes a while to load.)

So let's take Gareth's latest points.

1. Why do I consider "informer" to be an insult? He asks this because I had previously wondered why he had described me pejoratively (as well as wrongly) of being a "police informer". His accusation on this point relates to his point 2: Can I confirm my role in Newark Labour Party?

The background here is that in a PM to Gareth I put my full name, Peter Kirker, as I have aimed to do in all PMs. After receiving my message, Gareth saw fit to tell the Mudcat community that I lived in Newark - presumably because he had done a search. (I think I'm the only Peter Kirker in the UK.)

I didn't mind the information being made public - though of course some Mudcatters might have had legitimate concerns if Gareth had behaved similarly towards them. But the problem is, Gareth wasn't quite right. I do have a Newark postal address, but do not live in Newark. Neither do I live in the Newark parliamentary constituency. Naturally I have told Gareth I hav no connection with Newark Labour party, but he has got himself so excited that he can't bear to accept this simple truth. He happily tells the Mudcat community not only of my connection with Newark Labour Party (false, and denied), but also that I had some role in the deselection of Newark's last Labour MP (Fiona Jones)! Utter fantasy! Faced with my denials, he has solemnly responded that his allegations (including that little matter about being a police informer, which he now treats so lightly) are "substantial and will be repeated."

Gareth's point 3: Again as I have stated unequivocally in other posts, I have never applied to be a candidate for any political party in any parliamentary constituency.

Gareth's point 4: I don't recall ever claiming to be a "crusading journalist." I am a member of the NUJ (freelance branch) and publications I have written for include the New Statesman, the Independent and of course Tribune. I am on the board of a campaigning left/green magazine, Red Pepper, which is strongly supported by, and is a strong supporter of, Noam Chomsky, whom I don't suppose Gareth has ever heard of, among others. For many years - not that it's any business of Gareth's - my earnings from journalistic work have largely been in respect of consultancy work (producing employee publications) for major employers; drafting speeches, roadshows, corporate videos, etc; freelance sub-editing, and editorial design.

One other point: even though Gareth has tracked me down to a Newark address, he still questions (when it suits his strange purpose) to question whether Peter Kirker is my real name, and constantly boasts that Gareth is (of course!) his own real name. (Again he took this line with CarolC too.) I frankly cannot see the purpose of such persistent stupidity, and I don't expect Gareth will be inclined to offer any explanation.

Anyway, many apologies for departing so far from the thread theme to deal with all this, but I intend to do it every time Gareth sees fit to fire off gratuitous pop-shots in my direction. Unless Gareth is even now dreaming up new fantasies, my future responses will at least be shorter, as I will be able to refer to this one.