As a lawyer, I know bogus libel claims can bankrupt honest defendants. The English courts must change
Rupert Cowper-Coles
Justice cannot belong only to the wealthy. Media disputes could be resolved as expeditiously as employment tribunals
December 2023
Britain cannot be a place where sex attackers and oligarchs expect to sue their accusers into silence
Wayne David
I’m trying to change the law so that lawsuits known as Slapps, which threaten the right to free speech, are thrown out, says Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly
January 2023
Ukraine war ‘opening eyes’ to need to reform England’s libel laws, says lawyer
UK government ‘let lawyers bypass sanctions’ to help Putin ally sue journalist
December 2022
Free speech is stifled by laws made for the rich
Letters: Readers respond to David Davis’s article about Slapps – strategic lawsuits against public participation – and their threat to freedom of expression
June 2022
The Guardian view on Carole Cadwalladr’s libel case: a victory for journalism
The failure of Arron Banks’s case against her is a vindication of the reporter’s work
May 2022
‘Wagatha Christie’ puts England’s legal system on trial in the social media age
Today in Focus
The Wagatha Christie case (part 1)
April 2022
Jimmy Savile escaped justice because of libel laws, claims reporter
The Sun tried to expose Savile as paedophile but had to back down over fears of costly libel case, investigative journalist says
Outrageous libel laws protected Jimmy Savile. At last, change is on the cards
Meirion Jones
Moves to rein in lawsuits that protect the rich, powerful and wicked are decades, if not centuries, overdue, says journalist Meirion Jones
EU announces plans to protect journalists from vexatious lawsuits
Anti-Slapp directive would also enable EU states to refuse to recognise judgments passed in UK
March 2022
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
UK politics: Tactics used by P&O to sack 800 crew ‘completely unacceptable’, says No 10 – as it happened
UK to clamp down on libel ‘lawfare’ by the rich in English courts
August 2021
If the government cared about free speech, it would reform the London libel industry
Justin Borg-Barthet
Recent action against a book about Putin shows what can happen when journalism collides with the English legal system, says senior lecturer in law Justin Borg-Barthet
November 2020
The Sun's risky strategy vindicated in Johnny Depp libel case
English law 'abused by the powerful to threaten foreign journalists'
January 2019
Women who allege abuse mustn't be silenced by rich men's libel threats
Julie Bindel
Libel laws are being misused to protect the reputation of powerful men, says freelance journalist Julie Bindel
February 2018
Australian media companies join forces to appeal Rebel Wilson damages payout
Standup comedian's husband sues for defamation over 'provocative' show
December 2016
The Observer at 225
Letters: data is not the new oil, it is worthless without investment
The value of data collected and processed by technology companies, and its uses for society, are at issue
