Cost Of Libel Actions

EDM number 639 in 1997-98, proposed by Gordon Prentice on 13/01/1998.

That this House notes with concern that the cost to the taxpayer of the 13 day libel case brought by Mr Jonathan Aitken was ú12,623.54p, a sum which excludes ú150 paid by Mr Aitken in court fees; considers that public funds should not carry any part of the cost of a libel action which is then discontinued by the plaintiff; and calls on the Government to end the practice of public money being used to subsidise wealthy litigants.

This motion has been signed by a total of 20 MPs.