Lester and Libel (and a general election)

November 30, 2009

Roy Greenslade sums up Lord Lester’s proposals for reform of the libel laws in this post. Lester, a Liberal Democrat peer, is drawing up a Defamation Reform Bill which would:

1. Reform contingency fee agreements (aka no-win no-fee deals), memorably described by David Hooper as “the ransom factor” in contemporary libel litigation given that the costs racked up by claimant lawyers make it expensive for publishers to defend themselves.

2. End the principle of “multiple publication”, which means that internet sites can be sued over archived articles. Lester proposes the replacement of this with a “single publication rule”.

3. Prevent foreigners from suing in the British courts unless they can demonstrate that they have suffered real harm in Britain.

4. Enhance the public interest (qualified privilege) defence, which is presently somewhat of a hurdling exercise.

Professor Greenslade also notes that the Sunday Times, which carried Lester’s proposals yesterday, is currently being sued by Russia’s richest woman. He omits to say, however, that with a general election but a few months away, the worry must be that the sound and fury generated by the media over the state of the libel laws may ultimately signify nothing, lost amid backbench reshuffles and empty politico rhetoric.

 

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.