August 23rd, 2011
Users of an online carers forum are devastated after their site is closed following threats of legal action. Emily Butselaar reports on a worrying instance of internet censorship (more…)
Tags: Tags: Atos Healthcare, Carer Watch, libel, libel reform, libel reform campaign,
August 2nd, 2011
Liverpool John Moores university has dropped its libel case against Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who had criticised the university’s alleged commercial links with the regime of Colonel Gadaffi.
The university had objected to materials posted on Mr Halfon’s blog and on YouTube. Mr Halfon had initially removed the comments and videos from the web when contacted by the university. However, the John Moores’ continued with its demands, requesting that Halfon apologise and pay a “donation” to the university.
Halfon is a vocal critic of UK connections to the Libyan dictator. Elected as Conservative MP for Harlow in the 2010 election, he is descended from a Libyan Jewish grandfather who was forced to flee the country after Gadaffi took power in 1969.
Robert Halfon commented: “I’m pleased that LJMU has withdrawn their libel threat against me. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and people must have the right to express views even if they are unpalatable to some. I remain of the view that universities in general must be very careful as to which regimes they take their money from. I hope that universities who have had dealings with Libya and similar autocracies in the Middle East will think again before signing contracts or taking money.”
David Allen Green of Preiskel & Co, who was instructed by Mr Halfon, said the university’s action was “illiberal, confused, and misconceived” .
Michael Harris of the Libel Reform Campaign: “It is not acceptable that because of the inadequacies of English libel law, an MP can face libel action for raising legitimate concerns that a UK university may be dealing with a foreign dictatorship.”
(NOTE: Index on Censorship will be commencing a paid internship scheme in association with Liverpool John Moores University Journalism Department in Autumn 2011)
Tags: Tags: John Moores University, libel reform, Libya, Robert Halfon,
May 31st, 2011
Richard Wilson asks: Why would a London primary school employ the services of a political lobbying firm — and libel lawyers Carter Ruck?
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Tags: Tags: Durand Primary School, education, Lambeth Council, libel, libel reform, Richard Wilson, UK,
April 20th, 2011
NMT Medical, the US company which pursued cardiologist Peter Wilmshurst in the London libel courts for almost four years, has announced that it is ceasing operations and selling off its assets. (more…)
Tags: Tags: law, libel, libel reform, Peter Wilmshurst, Peter Wilmshurt, science, UK,
March 25th, 2011
Cardiologist Peter Wilmshurst is facing a fourth libel suit from medical instrument firm NMT.The case relates to the writ NMT issued on 26th Nov 2010 about Peter’s interview on the Today programme on 27 Nov 2009.Tags: Tags: law, libel reform, Peter Wilmshurst, UK,
March 18th, 2011
Liverpool John Moores University has threatened to sue a Conservative MP after he criticised its relations with the Libyan regime, Index on Censorship has learned.Robert Halfon MP, whose grandfather was expelled from Libya in 1968, has been vociferous in his opposition to the Gadaffi family, and particularly its ties with UK universities.London School of Economics director Sir Howard Davies resigned earlier this month after it was disclosed the school had taken £1.5 million from the north African state.LJMU does not deny that it has had dealing with the Libyan regime, saying in a statement that “everything that we have done has been delivered transparently, at the invitation or with the encouragement and the support of the FCO (through the British Ambassador) and the British Council.”British Prime Minister David Cameron said this week that Universities should ask “some pretty searching questions” about relations with Libya.On Monday, the coalition government published its draft libel reform bill, which proposes to protect expression of “honest opinion”.Tags: Tags: Gaddafi, John Moores University, libel, libel reform, Libya,
March 16th, 2011
Dear friends,
Yesterday the UK Justice Secretary laid out his plans for the draft defamation bill in the House of Commons. You can read it here. The Deputy Prime Minister, a strong supporter, also sets out his vision for the bill here.
The publication of the draft legislation was the culmination of a campaign Index on Censorship has led for the last 18 months to reform England’s archaic libel laws. The Free Speech Is Not For Sale report co-written by Index on Censorship and English PEN set the framework for a national debate about free expression and reputation. With a third partner, Sense About Science, we signed up 55,000 people, predominantly from the UK and USA, to join our campaign.
When our campaign began no political party in Britain had committed to wholesale reform of these laws since 1945; at the last general election each of the main political parties had done so. Over the past nine months, the coalition government took forward our suggestions. We are now working to improve the bill ahead of its passage through parliament over the next year.
As John Kampfner, our CEO, outlined in today’s Financial Times, English law had been used by the powerful to chill the free speech of NGOs, academics and other citizens around the world. The proposed changes go a considerable way to addressing the imbalance. This will be the first time in a generation that UK libel laws have been looked at anew – and we are confident that it will make a significant difference to free expression across the globe.
We wouldn’t be here without your support.
Thank you.
Jonathan Dimbleby,
Chairman,
Index on Censorship
Tags: Tags: Jonathan Dimbleby, law, libel reform, UK,
March 16th, 2011
Rachel Ehernfeld’s case highlighted the problem of “libel tourism” in English courts. Emily Badger got her reaction to the government’s proposed reforms
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Tags: Tags: libel reform, Rachel Ehrenfeld, speech,