By Hamish Mackay
Former Scottish Sun editor Bruce Waddell will take over as Daily Record editor – but not until 19 September.
That was the upshot of a courtroom battle in which News Group Newspapers – The Sun’s parent company – sought an interim interdict at the Court of Session banning Waddell from starting work for its deadly tabloid rival until next May.
Lord Drummond Young was satisfied Waddell had broken his contract and that the interim interdict should be granted, but he felt a year was excessive. The judge explained it was stated that Waddell was aware of The Sun’s plans for future promotions and marketing. He ruled News Group was entitled to the interdict because there was a risk it would suffer significant financial harm by losing a senior employee to a major competitor.
Forward planning normally appeared to take place on a quarterly basis, and the judge therefore restricted the interdict to four months.
Waddell quit on 19 May, announcing he would take up the Daily Record editorship on 4 August. He was appointed editor of the Scottish Sun in 1998 at a salary of £72,500. The court heard he will almost double his pay when he takes over at the Record.
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