PL: I’m really don’t understand why opinions on whether Nigel Evans MP if guilty or not are being voiced in the media at this point.

PL: Have a look at this Guardian article. Why areAndrew Mitchell’s comments reported? I really fail to understand why anybody’s opinions should be printed at this point. He has been questioned by police. It is a legal issue and we don’t if he is going to be charged. Surely opinions have no place being published at this point? PL

See: Nigel Evans should continue as deputy speaker, says Andrew Mitchell.

Click here to read full article

Lords pass defamation bill

Impending reform introduced by Lords McNally and Lester could end London’s status as ‘libel capital of the world’

Lisa O’Carroll
The Guardian, Tuesday 23 April 2013 19.29 BST

House Lords chamber
Peers voted by a majority of 78 to pass the defamation bill. Photograph: PA

Laws that led to London being dubbed “the libel capital of the world” will be reformed after peers in the Lords voted to pass the defamation bill, ending a three-year campaign led by Liberal Democrat peers Lord McNally and Lord Lester.

Libel reform campaigners said they were “delighted” overall that defamation reform was finally passing into law, although they were disappointed by the failure of a bid to bar private companies contracted to run schools, prisons or healthcare from suing ordinary citizens who criticised the work they do for the taxpayer.

However, the bill is a landmark piece of legislation and should provide more protection for individuals and organisations, including newspapers and broadcasters, which criticise big companies.

to read more
(posted by PL)

Foreign media removal from Delhi RapeTrial is dispiriting decision and retrograde step by Indian judiciary.

My old friend and excellent reporter Andrew Buncombe has been made to leave the Delhi rape trial a few minutes ago because the prosecution objected to the presence of the foreign media. You have to ask what is that all about? Where does that instruction come from?

(posted by PL)

Press Gazette – Defamation Bill now set to become law

Dominic Ponsford 17 April 2013

It now looks likely the a Defamation Bill will be on the statute books next month – but it may be without a key amendment aimed at preventing companies from suing for libel.

Following the cross-party deal on the creation of a Royal Charter-backed press regulator, the Puttnam House of Lords amendment adding a Leveson-law on to the Defamation Bill has been removed.

This means it can now proceed through Parliament.

But the House of Commons rejected another amendment requiring that companies must show substantial financial harm before they can sue for libel and which prevented private companies performing public functions from suing.

This means the Bill now enters the Ping Pong stage and goes rapidly back and forth between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached.

The Government has indicated that it will “actively consider” coming up with a new form of words for the amendment which does restrict the ability of companies to sue.

Campaigners are hopeful now that this final hurdle will be cleared and that the bill will reach the statute books within the next month.

to read more

(posted by PL)