The Earl of Derby has been in hot water recently over plans to build 1,200 homes over 20 years on greenfield sites near Newmarket, with shops, restaurants, community facilities and a primary school.
His critics say this will be a death blow to the local thoroughbred horse-breeding industry but his response has been that, as a stud owner himself, he has to take steps to keep his business afloat. The former MP for West Suffolk, Richard Spring (now Baron Risby of Haverhill), has been scathing in his attacks on the Earl.
Now there are signs that people sympathetic towards Lord Derby are striking back, by making subtle amendments to his Wikipedia entry.
Where it said “He is known for his controversial plans to build houses and an industrial estate”, Wikipedia now says: “He has plans for real estate and industrial development”.
There is also a new entry on philanthropy which tells how Lord Derby opened a £2 million Intensive Care Unit for Horses at Liverpool University’s Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital in 2010, providing facilities for the care of injured and sick horses, as well as treatment for foals.
At the opening Lord Derby said: “The university is world-renowned for its expertise and research in equine medicine and welfare. The new ICU will play a significant role in helping researchers’ further understanding of equine diseases and behaviour, as well as enhancing the facilities that are available to students studying veterinary science at Liverpool.”
Someone, it seems, is intent on improving Lord Derby’s image in the horse-racing community.
