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.
15 Apr 10 | News and features, United Kingdom
Simon Singh wins! The British Chiropractic Association(BCA) has today served a Notice of Discontinuance bringing to an end its libel claim against Dr Simon Singh. The science writer was accused of libel for an article in which he cast doubt on chiropractors’ claims of success in treatment of childhood conditions including colic, ear infections, asthma.
Earlier this month Simon Singh scored a crucial victory in his libel defence against the British Chiropractic Association. In a judgment handed down by the court of appeal, the Lord Chief Justice ruled that Singh’s contention that the BCA promoted “bogus” treatments was “a statement of opinion, and one backed by reasons”.
The judgment allowed Singh to pursue a defence of “fair comment”, the ruling could have a defining effect on the entire concept of “fair comment” in English libel law.
Update: Read the BCA’s statement here
PLUS: A good week for libel reform. All the major political parties now back change — and the campaign celebrates 50,000 signatures in support of libel reform
From the Index on Censorship archives: Floyd Abrams’s on libel Through the looking-glass
Timeline
2008 April Singh publishes an article about chiropractic in the Guardian
2008 July The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) sues Singh personally for libel
2009 May High Court gives a negative ruling on the meaning of Singh’s article
2009 June Singh asks for permission to appeal the ruling on meaning (paper application)
2009 July Mr Justice Eady rejects the application to appeal
2009 August Oral hearing on leave to appeal
2009 October Leave to appeal granted
2010 February Lord Chief Justice says he is “baffled” by case
2010 April 1 Decision on meaning of original Singh article
12 Apr 10 | Uncategorized
The Labour party launched its election manifesto this morning (12 April).
Among the 33,000 words (longer even than 1983’s “longest suicide note in history”, trivia fans) was this little sentence:
“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”
This, undoubtedly, is A Good Thing. Moreover, it now means that all three mainstream parties have committed to reforming our libel laws in the next parliament.
The Lib Dems were first there, adopting the principle at their conference last year. And on Friday, Conservative shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve told the Libel Reform Campaign:
“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.”
While we’re at it, we should mention that Amnesty has also lent its support to the campaign.
Sile Lane of Sense About Science and I will be representing the Libel Reform Coalition tonight at Westminster Skeptics in London, along with Simon Singh, Dave Gorman, Nick Cohen, Evan Harris, Joanne Cash and Jack of Kent.
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.
