12 May 10 | Uncategorized
Over at Liberal Conspiracy, Sunny Hundal’s got a bit of a scoop, with the contents of a document claimed to be the basis of the negotiations that formed the UK’s new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. Under the heading civil liberties, we find the following:
10. Civil liberties
The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion.
This will include:
A Freedom or Great Repeal Bill.
The scrapping of ID card scheme, the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric passports and the Contact Point Database.
Outlawing the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission.
The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency.
Adopting the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database.
The protection of historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury.
The restoration of rights to non-violent protest.
The review of libel laws to protect freedom of speech.
Safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation.
Further regulation of CCTV.
Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason.
A new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences.
The libel point would seem to echo what now-Attorney General Dominic Grieve told Index on Censorship in April:
“The Conservative party is committed, if elected, to undertaking a fundamental review of the libel laws with a view to enacting legislation to reform them. This reform could best be done by means of a separate Libel Bill and this is the preferred approach for us.”
This is a good start, but we need reform, not just review.
21 Apr 10 | News and features, Uncategorized
Last night the Libel Reform campaign hosted the official “Free Speech Hustings” of the general election 2010 in association with English PEN, Index on Censorship and Sense About Science
Speaking at the event were Dominic Grieve from the Conservatives, Evan Harris from the Liberal Democrats and Labour’s Michael Wills.
15 Apr 10 | News and features, Uncategorized
All the major political parties now back libel reform — and the Libel Reform campaign celebrates 50,000 signatures in support of change
The Libel Reform Campaign welcomes manifesto commitments to reform England’s libel laws from all three of Britain’s main political parties. On Monday, the Labour party pledged to reform libel laws in their manifesto, followed by the Conservative party on Tuesday and the Liberal Democrats today. The focus now shifts to ensuring the politicians act on their commitments and to the substance of the reforms.
The Libel Reform Campaign has highlighted the chilling effect that our libel laws have on freedom of expression in the UK and overseas. This morning the campaigns petition received its 50,000th signature calling for libel reform, to sign up visit www.libelreform.org .
The Manifesto Pledges
The Labour party manifesto released on 12 April said:
To encourage freedom of speech and access to information, we will bring forward new legislation on libel to protect the right of defendants to speak freely.
The Conservative party manifesto released on 13 April said:
We will review and reform libel laws to protect freedom of speech, reduce costs and discourage libel tourism.
The Liberal Democrat party manifesto released on 14 April said:
[We will] Protect free speech, investigative journalism and academic peer-reviewed publishing through reform of the English and Welsh libel laws — including by requiring corporations to show damage and prove malice or recklessness, and by providing a robust responsible journalism defence.
The Libel Reform campaign says
Jo Glanville, the Editor of Index on Censorship said:
Now we have a commitment to reform through the Parliamentary process, we need to ensure that we get the type of robust reform that will entrench the fundamental right to freedom of expression for writers, human rights activists, scientists and academics and not watered-down reforms that well-paid lawyers will slowly dilute further.
Jonathan Heawood, the Director of English PEN said:
Through strength of argument and strength of numbers we have persuaded all three major political parties that it’s time to reform our libel laws. These cross-party manifesto commitments will ensure that even in the event of a hung parliament, there is one thing the next government will agree on: libel reform.
Tracey Brown, the Managing Director of Sense About Science said:
The political parties have agreed with our campaign and said enough is enough, we simply can’t continue with our unfair and ridiculed libel laws. We need freedom of speech that we can exercise confidently, to discuss science and medicine or any other subject of public interest. Not semi-feudal laws that tie people up in court for two years and chill public discussion.
08 Apr 10 | Uncategorized
Index welcomes new Conservative pledge to libel reform — all three main political parties are now committed to reform of our libel laws
The Libel Reform Campaign led by English PEN, Index on Censorship and Sense About Science have welcomed today’s commitment by Dominic Grieve, the Shadow Justice Secretary, to a Libel Reform Bill in the next Parliament. The commitment comes as the three major parties jostle to portray themselves as the party for libel reform, after the failed attempt to cut lawyers’ fees in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
The Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary, Dominic Grieve QC MP said:
The Conservative party is committed, if elected, to undertaking a fundamental review of the libel laws with a view to enacting legislation to reform them. This reform could best be done by means of a separate Libel Bill and this is the preferred approach for us.
The new Conservative position has delighted campaigners as now all three main political parties are committed to reform of our libel laws. The Conservatives have also made clear that libel reform will be in their forthcoming manifesto.
The Libel Reform Campaign has galvanised 48,000 supporters and persuaded the majority of eligible MPs to sign a Parliamentary Early Day Motion. The national campaign is believed to be the first campaign by an NGO this year to get a manifesto commitment from all three major parties.
Jack Straw committed to a Labour manifesto pledge to reforming English libel law at a mass-lobby of Parliament organised by the Libel Reform Campaign on 23 March, following his establishment of a working-party into reform of the libel laws that commenced in February. Nick Clegg, the leader of The Liberal Democrats, made the same commitment on 18 January.
John Kampfner, the CEO of Index on Censorship, said:
After the long-awaited cut to lawyers’ fees was blocked in the House of Commons this week, we’re delighted by this good news from the Conservative Party. Now, all three major political parties are committed to a Libel Reform Bill in the next Parliament.
Jonathan Heawood, the Director of English PEN said:
To have every major political party committed to reform of our libel laws shows politicians have woken up to the extent of the problem after our year-long campaign. We really do need to see primary legislation in the new Parliament.
Tracey Brown, the Managing Director of Sense About Science said:
The main political parties have committed to libel reform after our campaign energised 48,000 across the country with public talks, a huge comedy gig and our supporters sending tens of thousands of emails and letters to MPs. We’ll be keeping this momentum up after the election and we know how easily this important reform could be sidelined once the election campaign is over.
