Freedom of speech and the freedom to Tweet
Freedom of speech is one of the foundations of a democracy and must be protected as far as is reasonably possible, writes Mike Morgan-Giles.
Freedom of speech is one of the foundations of a democracy and must be protected as far as is reasonably possible, writes Mike Morgan-Giles.
The Leveson Inquiry takes a break today, at the end of a week in which celebrities and ordinary people have testified to the abhorrence of the tabloid press.
Lord Lester, the architect of the Human Rights Act, has tabled a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Lords to systematically reform English libel law.
Yesterday the new coalition government announced it is to “review libel laws to protect freedom of speech” as part of a welcome and much-needed package.
The Libel Reform Campaign has welcomed today’s media select committee report as “a great starting point to ensure an unprecedented overhaul of our libel laws”.
The parliamentary report into “Press standards, privacy and libel” has criticised the News of the World for “buying the silence” of a reporter and PI.
Following Jack Straw’s announcement that libel lawyers’ “success” fees would be cut by 90 per cent, campaigners for libel reform say it’s a big step forward.
Libel reform campaigners have reacted with “dismay” as the BBC conceded to Trafigura in the High Court. In a statement, the BBC apologised to the toxic waste firm.