Martin Buhagiar

Martin Buhagiar is the group editor of the North London Times and Independent Series covering Barnet, Hendon, Edgware, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow and Borehamwood. The newspapers are published by Newsquest, the third largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom.

Career history

Martin became group editor having successfully edited the St Albans and Harpenden Review and Welwyn Hatfield Review. He was also deputy group editor of Newsquest's Hertfordshire and Middlesex titles, including the Watford Observer. He was previously news editor of Luton on Sunday. Newsquest is a subsidary of the Gannett Foundation; an American comnpany with a big interest in the British Media footprint.

Political conflicts

Martin has faced spats with Conservative politician Councillor Brian Coleman after writing a stinging comment article criticising the Barnet councillor and then Greater London Assembly Member and political head of the fire authority. He also endured a long running battle with St Albans Conservative MP Anne Main after his newspaper exposed her expenses claims. Mrs Main complained to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), but the PCC found that no codes of conduct had been broken. Mr Behugiar also survived a complaint by Mr. Paul Denton for unethical and defammatory reporting and was not sued for defammation because he knew that most of the people he writes AbOUT dont have the finances to take him to court.Mr. Behugiars articles have been criticised as been islamo -and christianophobic.So far he hasnt been brought to book for encouraging and inciting religious hatred in the community and sensationally styled media reporting.