News and Comment
Libel reform announced in Queen’s Speech to Parliament
9 May 2012
The Government will introduce a law "to protect freedom of speech and reform the law of defamation”.The libel reform campaign, nearly 100 organisations and our 60,000 supporters including leading names from science, the arts and public life have been calling legislation to reform the libel laws since December 2009. Congratulations to all on this momentous stage.
Now we need to see the details of the Bill and will work to ensure the reforms will do away with unwarranted chilling, bullying effects of the current laws.
We will be adding responses from others to this great news as they come in so keep checking back. Or you can follow on Twitter #libelreform.
Read reactions to the announcement.
Recent commentary:
Tracey Brown, BMJ, "A defamation bill in the Queen’s speech"
Kirsty Hughes, Huffington Post, "Boost to Freedom of Expression in the UK - London Set to Lose Its Label as Global Capital for Libel Tourism?"
Mark Henderson, The Geek Manifesto, "Geek questions for the Queen’s Speech: Libel reform"
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