Author Archives: Robert Sharp

The Independent View: A chance for Liberal Democrat activists to speak up for free speech

There is a new threat to the Defamation Bill.

No sooner had the proposed law been liberated, after being taken hostage by Leveson negotiations, than Conservative MPs have begun messing with crucial free speech provisions.

Former libel lawyer Sir Edward Garnier MP has tabled an amendment seeking to remove a crucial clause from the Defamation Bill. The clause places some limits on corporations’ use of the libel laws. It does not bar them from suing entirely – just asks that they show financial loss before they do so. It’s an objective and measurable …

Posted in The Independent View | Tagged , , , and | 3 Comments

Libel law needs major reform

The clamour for a change to our pernicious libel laws grows louder every day.  In November, Index on Censorship and English PEN published Free Speech is Not For Sale, a report into the state of libel in England & Wales, and the bizarre phenomenon of libel tourism.  Impressed by this report, Jack Straw announced the creation of a working group to deliver reform.  Lib Dem peer Lord Lester announced on the BBC Radio 4 PM programme he will begin drafting a libel bill, and MPs have begun to sign EDM 423 (tabled by Dr …

Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged , , and | 7 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Ben Mathis
    If the planned reorganisation was so bad - as a Londoner and thus not affected, I can't directly comment - then it's good to see the government reconsider. The ...
  • Chris Cory
    Completely agree with this article and comments from Simon, John and Nigel. Some years ago we decided that as a progressive party of the left we should focus ...
  • Nigel Quinton
    Excellent article, totally agree with your observations, and for once disagree with Mick Taylor, when he states that "Focussing on men and boys will necessarily...
  • John Hann
    Over the last 40 years we have sold off almost everything that is not nailed down including most of our manufacturing industries. As a result young men unqua...
  • Mick Taylor
    When I went to university about 5-6% of the population did so. I studied economics. After 4 years at 2 universities, I found there was little or no work in my f...