A bookshop manager succeeded in getting his name removed from a regional daily story, claiming he had told its reporter that he was “not allowed to speak to the press.”

Lewis Mainwaring complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation after the South Wales Argus quoted him in a story about how the Duke of Sussex’s book ‘Spare’ was selling in shops across Newport.

The Argus quoted Mr Mainwaring as saying the branch of WH Smith where he was the manager had “sold about 20 copies of the book already”.

Complaining under Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 2 (Privacy), Clause 10 (Clandestine devices and subterfuge), and Clause 14 (Confidential sources) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, Mr Mainwaring claimed he had told the reporter he was not allowed to speak to the press after she revealed she was a journalist.

This recollection of the encounter was disputed by the Argus, which said the journalist had identified herself as working for the newspaper at the start of their conversation.

After IPSO began an investigation into the matter, the Argus offered to remove his name and quote from the online story and publish the following correction: “We have been asked by the manager of WH Smith in Newport to point out that he did not wish for his name or comment to be published in the article.

“While we acted in good faith, we are happy to clarify this and apologise for this misunderstanding.”

This resolved the matter to Mr Mainwaring’s satisfaction and IPSO discontinued its investigation.

The full resolution statement can be read here.