English PEN and Index on Censorship today welcome Jack Straw’s proposal to make dramatic cuts to lawyers’ win fees in defamation cases, but warn that fees are only one part of a libel system in need of serious reform.
CATEGORY: United Kingdom
The right to veil
Suggesting banning women from dressing how they please is deeply offensive says Jess McCabe
European court rules stop and search powers illegal
Judges decide section 44 violates claimant’s human rights but journalists and protesters are unlikely to see change on the ground says Leah Borromeo
Islam4UK ban a blow to free expression
The Home Secretary’s decision to ban an extremist group shows exactly why we must not allow sentiment to overrule free speech says Padraig Reidy
WordPress removes blog after libel allegation
Popular west of England site The Bristol Blogger was temporarily removed by blogging platform Wordpress after it received a complaint from former University of the West of England vice-chancellor Howard newby. In a statement given to local radio...
Keep up demand for libel reform
Jack Straw has noticed the clamour for change. Reform of our unfair defamation laws must now become a manifesto pledge, says Padraig Reidy
Straw to review libel laws
The Ministry of Justice is to conduct a comprehensive review of England's defamation laws, which will be experted to report in mid-March, it was revealed today. The ministry's seemingly strong new commitment comes after over 10,000 people signed a...
Libel: BBC concedes to Trafigura
Index on Censorship and English PEN today have expressed dismay that the BBC has conceded the libel action brought by toxic waste shippers Trafigura in the High Court
A year of gagging
In 2009 the government, courts and the police have connived in the suppression of investigative journalism and scientific research. But campaigns for free expression are fighting back says
John Kampfner
Take on the libel bullies
Not everyone can be as lucky as I was, says Alexei Sayle. Our defamation laws are as outdated as barristers’ wigs and gowns