McAlpine sues Speaker's wife

Solicitors for the Conservative peer Lord McAlpine has responded to the comments made by the Speaker's wife over their legal battle:

A spokesman for the legal firm Carter Ruck has told ITV News: 'Lord McAlpine has issued and served proceedings for libel against Sally Bercow and we are representing her.

"He has put in a claim limited to £50,000."

The peer alleges that the Commons Speaker's wife posted a libellous tweet that wrongly linked him to child abuse.

The Speaker's wife has confirmed ITV News' disclosure that she has received a legal letter from Conservative peer Lord McAlpine.

She has reiterated her claim that her tweet was not libellous.

ITV News understands that the wife of the House of Commons Speaker has received a legal letter from Conservative peer Lord McAlpine today.

It comes after his solicitor said letters would be sent to individuals who mentioned the peer's name on the internet, particularly on Twitter, in relation to false accusations of child abuse.

Mrs Bercow is speaking to her solicitor.

Yesterday she tweeted that it was "not a libellous tweet".

Sally Bercow, wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow, has continued to tweet about reports she is receive a letter from Lord McAlpine's legal team.

She maintains her post was "not a libellous tweet":

Sally Bercow, wife of Speaker of the House John Bercow, has responded to reports that she is due to receive a letter from Lord McAlpine's legal team:

Andrew Reid, Lord McAlpine's solicitor, said that legal letters would be sent to individuals who mentioned the peer's name on the internet, particularly on Twitter, in relation to false accusations of child abuse against the former Tory treasurer.

Eleven days ago Mrs Bercow tweeted: