39987
2009-10
423
Libel Law Reform
Evan Harris
2009-12-09
That this House notes that human rights activists, scientists, writers and journalists are prevented from publishing, and the public prevented from reading, matters of strong public interest due to the chilling effect of English libel law; further notes that libel actions in England and Wales cost 100 times more than the European average; further notes that the costs of defending a libel case are usually prohibitive and that even successful defendants do not recover their full costs; and further notes the report of the United Nations Committee on Human Rights which criticises English libel law for its stifling of free expression globally due to libel tourism whereby foreign complainants bring cases against foreign writers for alleged libel in overseas publications; believes that public interest is endangered by powerful vested interests and corporations being able to intimidate writers into not publishing; recognises the recent report by Index on Censorship and English PEN, Free speech is not for sale andfurther notes the campaign for scientific freedom by Sense About Science; welcomes the formation of the Libel Reform Coalition to campaign for law reform; and calls for a re-casting of the libel laws such that, while individual reputation is protected against malicious or reckless smears, lawful free expression is not chilled and there is a fully effective public interest defence for both scholarship and responsible journalism.
Civil law
Evan Harris
2009-12-09
Proposed
Oxford West and Abingdon
Liberal Democrat
Denis MacShane
2009-12-09
Seconded
Rotherham
Labour
Peter Bottomley
2009-12-09
Seconded
Worthing West
Conservative
Paul Farrelly
2009-12-09
Seconded
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Labour
Philip Davies
2009-12-09
Seconded
Shipley
Conservative
Adam Price
2009-12-09
Seconded
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Plaid Cymru
Adrian Sanders
2009-12-09
Signed
Torbay
Liberal Democrat
Richard Shepherd
2009-12-09
Signed
Aldridge-Brownhills
Conservative
Andrew MacKinlay
2009-12-09
Signed
Thurrock
Labour
Gordon Prentice
2009-12-10
Signed
Pendle
Labour
Eric Illsley
2009-12-10
Signed
Barnsley Central
Labour
Brian Jenkins
2009-12-10
Signed
Tamworth
Labour
Lynne Jones
2009-12-10
Signed
Birmingham, Selly Oak
Labour
Andrew George
2009-12-10
Signed
St Ives
Liberal Democrat
Rudi Vis
2009-12-10
Signed
Finchley and Golders Green
Labour
John Hemming
2009-12-10
Signed
Birmingham, Yardley
Liberal Democrat
Nick Palmer
2009-12-14
Signed
Broxtowe
Labour
Terry Rooney
2009-12-14
Signed
Bradford North
Labour
Nick Harvey
2009-12-14
Signed
North Devon
Liberal Democrat
Dai Havard
2009-12-14
Signed
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Labour
Kate Hoey
2009-12-14
Signed
Vauxhall
Labour
Brian Iddon
2009-12-14
Signed
Bolton South East
Labour
Gerald Kaufman
2009-12-14
Signed
Manchester, Gorton
Labour
Bob Laxton
2009-12-14
Signed
Derby North
Labour
Tom Levitt
2009-12-14
Signed
High Peak
Labour
Annette Brooke
2009-12-14
Signed
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Liberal Democrat
Ann Cryer
2009-12-14
Signed
Keighley
Labour
Andrew Dismore
2009-12-14
Signed
Hendon
Labour
Paul Truswell
2009-12-14
Signed
Pudsey
Labour
Steve Webb
2009-12-14
Signed
Northavon
Liberal Democrat
Ann Winterton
2009-12-14
Signed
Congleton
Conservative
Jim Devine
2009-12-14
Signed
Livingston
Labour
Willie Rennie
2009-12-14
Signed
Dunfermline and West Fife
Liberal Democrat
Gwyn Prosser
2009-12-15
Signed
Dover
Labour
Bob Russell
2009-12-15
Signed
Colchester
Liberal Democrat
Clare Short
2009-12-15
Signed
Birmingham, Ladywood
Independent Labour
Robert Smith
2009-12-15
Signed
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Liberal Democrat
David Heath
2009-12-15
Signed
Somerton & Frome
Liberal Democrat
Paul Holmes
2009-12-15
Signed
Chesterfield
Liberal Democrat
Glenda Jackson
2009-12-15
Signed
Hampstead and Highgate
Labour
Charles Kennedy
2009-12-15
Signed
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Liberal Democrat
John McDonnell
2009-12-15
Signed
Hayes and Harlington
Labour
Denis Murphy
2009-12-15
Signed
Wansbeck
Labour
Martin Caton
2009-12-15
Signed
Gower
Labour
Neil Gerrard
2009-12-15
Signed
Walthamstow
Labour
Sandra Gidley
2009-12-15
Signed
Romsey
Liberal Democrat
Mike Hancock
2009-12-15
Signed
Portsmouth South
Liberal Democrat
Anne Begg
2009-12-15
Signed
Aberdeen South
Labour
Graham Stringer
2009-12-15
Signed
Manchester, Blackley
Labour
Gisela Stuart
2009-12-15
Signed
Birmingham, Edgbaston
Labour
Robert Syms
2009-12-15
Signed
Poole
Conservative
Derek Wyatt
2009-12-15
Signed
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Labour
Graham Stuart
2009-12-15
Signed
Beverley and Holderness
Conservative
Jo Swinson
2009-12-15
Signed
East Dunbartonshire
Liberal Democrat
Stephen Williams
2009-12-15
Signed
Bristol West
Liberal Democrat
Eric Joyce
2009-12-16
Withdrawn
Falkirk
Labour
David Anderson
2009-12-16
Withdrawn
Blaydon
Labour
Parmjit Dhanda
2009-12-16
Signed
Gloucester
Labour
Jim Sheridan
2009-12-16
Signed
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Labour
Bob Spink
2009-12-16
Signed
Castle Point
Independent
Tom Harris
2009-12-16
Signed
Glasgow South
Labour
Christopher Huhne
2009-12-16
Signed
Eastleigh
Liberal Democrat
Fraser Kemp
2009-12-16
Signed
Houghton and Washington East
Labour
Robert Key
2009-12-16
Signed
Salisbury
Conservative
Andrew Love
2009-12-16
Signed
Edmonton
Labour
Michael Moore
2009-12-16
Signed
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Liberal Democrat
Malcolm Moss
2009-12-16
Signed
North East Cambridgeshire
Conservative
Doug Naysmith
2009-12-16
Signed
Bristol North West
Labour
Mark Oaten
2009-12-16
Signed
Winchester
Liberal Democrat
Graham Brady
2009-12-16
Signed
Altrincham and Sale West
Conservative
Malcolm Bruce
2009-12-16
Signed
Gordon
Liberal Democrat
Paul Burstow
2009-12-16
Signed
Sutton and Cheam
Liberal Democrat
David Cairns
2009-12-16
Signed
Inverclyde
Labour
Ian Cawsey
2009-12-16
Signed
Brigg and Goole
Labour
Ann Clwyd
2009-12-16
Signed
Cynon Valley
Labour
Harry Cohen
2009-12-16
Signed
Leyton and Wanstead
Labour
Janet Dean
2009-12-16
Signed
Burton
Labour
Jeffrey M Donaldson
2009-12-16
Signed
Lagan Valley
DUP
Fabian Hamilton
2009-12-16
Signed
Leeds North East
Labour
John Battle
2009-12-16
Signed
Leeds West
Labour
Richard Taylor
2009-12-16
Signed
Wyre Forest
Independent
Tim Farron
2009-12-16
Signed
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Liberal Democrat
Lynne Featherstone
2009-12-16
Signed
Hornsey and Wood Green
Liberal Democrat
John Leech
2009-12-16
Signed
Manchester, Withington
Liberal Democrat
Joan Walley
2010-01-05
Withdrawn
Stoke-on-Trent North
Labour
Stephen Pound
2010-01-05
Signed
Ealing North
Labour
Alan Reid
2010-01-05
Signed
Argyll and Bute
Liberal Democrat
Jimmy Hood
2010-01-05
Signed
Lanark and Hamilton East
Labour
Chris McCafferty
2010-01-05
Signed
Calder Valley
Labour
Siobhain McDonagh
2010-01-05
Signed
Mitcham and Morden
Labour
Austin Mitchell
2010-01-05
Signed
Great Grimsby
Labour
Colin Burgon
2010-01-05
Signed
Elmet
Labour
Colin Challen
2010-01-05
Signed
Morley and Rothwell
Labour
John Cummings
2010-01-05
Signed
Easington
Labour
Frank Field
2010-01-05
Signed
Birkenhead
Labour
Mark Fisher
2010-01-05
Signed
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Labour
Don Foster
2010-01-05
Signed
Bath
Liberal Democrat
John Austin
2010-01-05
Signed
Erith and Thamesmead
Labour
Richard Bacon
2010-01-05
Signed
South Norfolk
Conservative
Norman Baker
2010-01-05
Signed
Lewes
Liberal Democrat
Alan Beith
2010-01-05
Signed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Liberal Democrat
Roger Berry
2010-01-05
Signed
Kingswood
Labour
Howard Stoate
2010-01-05
Signed
Dartford
Labour
Gavin Strang
2010-01-05
Signed
Edinburgh East
Labour
Gary Streeter
2010-01-05
Signed
South West Devon
Conservative
Andrew Stunell
2010-01-05
Signed
Hazel Grove
Liberal Democrat
Ian Taylor
2010-01-05
Signed
Esher and Walton
Conservative
Matthew Taylor
2010-01-05
Signed
Truro and St Austell
Liberal Democrat
John Thurso
2010-01-05
Signed
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Liberal Democrat
Robert Wareing
2010-01-05
Signed
Liverpool, West Derby
Independent
Julia Goldsworthy
2010-01-05
Signed
Falmouth and Camborne
Liberal Democrat
Daniel Kawczynski
2010-01-05
Signed
Shrewsbury and Atcham
Conservative
David Howarth
2010-01-05
Signed
Cambridge
Liberal Democrat
Jim McGovern
2010-01-05
Signed
Dundee West
Labour
Anne Main
2010-01-05
Signed
St Albans
Conservative
Louise Ellman
2010-01-06
Signed
Liverpool, Riverside
Labour
John Greenway
2010-01-06
Signed
Ryedale
Conservative
Adrian Bailey
2010-01-06
Signed
West Bromwich West
Labour
Chloe Smith
2010-01-06
Signed
Norwich North
Conservative
David Borrow
2010-01-07
Withdrawn
South Ribble
Labour
John Pugh
2010-01-07
Signed
Southport
Liberal Democrat
Alan Simpson
2010-01-07
Signed
Nottingham South
Labour
Stephen Hesford
2010-01-07
Signed
Wirral West
Labour
Paul Keetch
2010-01-07
Signed
Hereford
Liberal Democrat
Ronnie Campbell
2010-01-07
Signed
Blyth Valley
Labour
David Davies
2010-01-07
Signed
Monmouth
Conservative
Hywel Williams
2010-01-07
Signed
Caernarfon
Plaid Cymru
Lorely Burt
2010-01-07
Signed
Solihull
Liberal Democrat
Mark Williams
2010-01-07
Signed
Ceredigion
Liberal Democrat
Dai Davies
2010-01-07
Signed
Blaenau Gwent
Independent
Tony Lloyd
2010-01-11
Signed
Manchester Central
Labour
Mike Gapes
2010-01-11
Signed
Ilford South
Labour
Natascha Engel
2010-01-11
Signed
North East Derbyshire
Labour
Kelvin Hopkins
2010-01-12
Signed
Luton North
Labour
Michael Mates
2010-01-12
Signed
East Hampshire
Conservative
Tom Brake
2010-01-12
Signed
Carshalton and Wallington
Liberal Democrat
Michael Ancram
2010-01-12
Signed
Devizes
Conservative
John Barrett
2010-01-12
Signed
Edinburgh West
Liberal Democrat
Robert Walter
2010-01-12
Signed
North Dorset
Conservative
Katy Clark
2010-01-12
Signed
North Ayrshire and Arran
Labour
Susan Kramer
2010-01-12
Signed
Richmond Park
Liberal Democrat
Greg Mulholland
2010-01-12
Signed
Leeds North West
Liberal Democrat
Anne Moffat
2010-01-13
Signed
East Lothian
Labour
Andrew Miller
2010-01-13
Signed
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Labour
Paul Murphy
2010-01-13
Signed
Torfaen
Labour
Menzies Campbell
2010-01-13
Signed
North East Fife
Liberal Democrat
Tom Clarke
2010-01-13
Signed
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Labour
David Davis
2010-01-13
Signed
Haltemprice and Howden
Conservative
Roger Williams
2010-01-13
Signed
Brecon and Radnorshire
Liberal Democrat
Gordon Banks
2010-01-13
Signed
Ochil and South Perthshire
Labour
Linda Riordan
2010-01-13
Signed
Halifax
Labour
Paul Rowen
2010-01-13
Signed
Rochdale
Liberal Democrat
Ashok Kumar
2010-01-14
Withdrawn
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Labour
Eddie McGrady
2010-01-14
Withdrawn
South Down
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Bernard Jenkin
2010-01-14
Signed
North Essex
Conservative
Vincent Cable
2010-01-14
Signed
Twickenham
Liberal Democrat
Jim Cousins
2010-01-14
Signed
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Labour
Edward Davey
2010-01-14
Signed
Kingston and Surbiton
Liberal Democrat
Diane Abbott
2010-01-14
Signed
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Labour
Richard Caborn
2010-01-18
Signed
Sheffield Central
Labour
Janet Anderson
2010-01-18
Signed
Rossendale and Darwen
Labour
Bill Etherington
2010-01-19
Signed
Sunderland North
Labour
Peter Atkinson
2010-01-19
Signed
Hexham
Conservative
Desmond Turner
2010-01-19
Signed
Brighton, Kemptown
Labour
Kim Howells
2010-01-20
Signed
Pontypridd
Labour
Dan Rogerson
2010-01-20
Signed
North Cornwall
Liberal Democrat
David Heyes
2010-01-21
Signed
Ashton-under-Lyne
Labour
Sally Keeble
2010-01-21
Signed
Northampton North
Labour
Jacqui Smith
2010-01-25
Signed
Redditch
Labour
George Galloway
2010-01-25
Signed
Bethnal Green and Bow
Respect
Geoffrey Robinson
2010-01-27
Signed
Coventry North West
Labour
Derek Twigg
2010-01-27
Signed
Halton
Labour
David Drew
2010-01-28
Signed
Stroud
Labour
Julie Morgan
2010-01-29
Signed
Cardiff North
Labour
Nicholas Soames
2010-01-29
Signed
Mid Sussex
Conservative
Simon Hughes
2010-02-01
Signed
North Southwark and Bermondsey
Liberal Democrat
Elfyn Llwyd
2010-02-01
Signed
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
Plaid Cymru
William McCrea
2010-02-01
Signed
South Antrim
DUP
Michael Clapham
2010-02-01
Signed
Barnsley West and Penistone
Labour
Norman Lamb
2010-02-02
Signed
North Norfolk
Liberal Democrat
Sarah Teather
2010-02-02
Signed
Brent East
Liberal Democrat
Richard Younger-Ross
2010-02-02
Signed
Teignbridge
Liberal Democrat
Danny Alexander
2010-02-02
Signed
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Liberal Democrat
Martin Horwood
2010-02-02
Signed
Cheltenham
Liberal Democrat
David Chaytor
2010-02-03
Signed
Bury North
Labour
Bill Olner
2010-02-04
Signed
Nuneaton
Labour
David Hamilton
2010-02-08
Signed
Midlothian
Labour
Hywel Francis
2010-02-09
Signed
Aberavon
Labour
Jennifer Willott
2010-02-09
Signed
Cardiff Central
Liberal Democrat
David Laws
2010-02-10
Signed
Yeovil
Liberal Democrat
Lembit
2010-02-10
Signed
Montgomeryshire
Liberal Democrat
Colin Breed
2010-02-10
Signed
South East Cornwall
Liberal Democrat
Jeremy Corbyn
2010-02-10
Signed
Islington North
Labour
Phil Willis
2010-02-10
Signed
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Liberal Democrat
Brian Binley
2010-02-10
Signed
Northampton South
Conservative
Jeremy Browne
2010-02-10
Signed
Taunton
Liberal Democrat
Douglas Carswell
2010-02-10
Signed
Harwich
Conservative
Mark Hunter
2010-02-10
Signed
Cheadle
Liberal Democrat
John Mann
2010-02-22
Withdrawn
Bassetlaw
Labour
Mark Lazarowicz
2010-02-22
Signed
Edinburgh North and Leith
Labour
Richard Burden
2010-02-22
Signed
Birmingham, Northfield
Labour
Frank Cook
2010-02-22
Signed
Stockton North
Labour
Ian Davidson
2010-02-22
Signed
Glasgow South West
Labour
David Amess
2010-02-22
Signed
Southend West
Conservative
Patrick Hall
2010-02-22
Signed
Bedford
Labour
Emily Thornberry
2010-02-22
Signed
Islington South and Finsbury
Labour
Kitty Ussher
2010-02-22
Signed
Burnley
Labour
Andrew MacKay
2010-02-24
Signed
Bracknell
Conservative
David Curry
2010-02-24
Signed
Skipton and Ripon
Conservative
Malcolm Wicks
2010-02-24
Signed
Croydon North
Labour
Martin Salter
2010-02-25
Signed
Reading West
Labour
Stephen Hepburn
2010-02-25
Signed
Jarrow
Labour
John Horam
2010-02-25
Signed
Orpington
Conservative
David Wilshire
2010-02-26
Signed
Spelthorne
Conservative
Geraldine Smith
2010-03-01
Signed
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Labour
Joan Humble
2010-03-01
Signed
Blackpool North and Fleetwood
Labour
Andy Slaughter
2010-03-01
Signed
Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush
Labour
Edward Leigh
2010-03-02
Signed
Gainsborough
Conservative
Michael Connarty
2010-03-02
Signed
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Labour
Sammy Wilson
2010-03-03
Signed
East Antrim
DUP
Anthony D Wright
2010-03-03
Signed
Great Yarmouth
Labour
Marsha Singh
2010-03-04
Signed
Bradford West
Labour
Jim Cunningham
2010-03-04
Signed
Coventry South
Labour
Kevin Barron
2010-03-04
Signed
Rother Valley
Labour
Chris Mullin
2010-03-08
Signed
Sunderland South
Labour
Betty Williams
2010-03-08
Signed
Conwy
Labour
Nicholas Winterton
2010-03-08
Signed
Macclesfield
Conservative
James Plaskitt
2010-03-09
Signed
Warwick and Leamington
Labour
Graham Allen
2010-03-09
Signed
Nottingham North
Labour
Tobias Ellwood
2010-03-09
Signed
Bournemouth East
Conservative
Martin Linton
2010-03-10
Signed
Battersea
Labour
Jon Cruddas
2010-03-10
Signed
Dagenham
Labour
Bruce George
2010-03-10
Signed
Walsall South
Labour
Clive Betts
2010-03-10
Signed
Sheffield, Attercliffe
Labour
Mike Wood
2010-03-10
Signed
Batley and Spen
Labour
Julie Kirkbride
2010-03-11
Signed
Bromsgrove
Conservative
Hugh Bayley
2010-03-11
Signed
City of York
Labour
Keith Vaz
2010-03-11
Signed
Leicester East
Labour
Michael Penning
2010-03-11
Signed
Hemel Hempstead
Conservative
Patrick Mercer
2010-03-12
Signed
Newark
Conservative
Pete Wishart
2010-03-12
Signed
Perth and North Perthshire
Scottish National Party
George Howarth
2010-03-15
Signed
Knowsley North and Sefton East
Labour
John Whittingdale
2010-03-15
Signed
Maldon and East Chelmsford
Conservative
Alistair Carmichael
2010-03-16
Signed
Orkney and Shetland
Liberal Democrat
Virendra Sharma
2010-03-16
Signed
Ealing, Southall
Labour
Lady Hermon
2010-03-17
Signed
North Down
UUP
Sandra Osborne
2010-03-17
Signed
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Labour
Celia Barlow
2010-03-17
Signed
Hove
Labour
Mohammad Sarwar
2010-03-22
Signed
Glasgow Central
Labour
Michael Meacher
2010-03-23
Signed
Oldham West and Royton
Labour
Paul Flynn
2010-03-23
Signed
Newport West
Labour
Tony Baldry
2010-03-24
Signed
Banbury
Conservative
Mark Lancaster
2010-03-24
Signed
North East Milton Keynes
Conservative
Lindsay Roy
2010-03-24
Signed
Glenrothes
Labour
Robert Flello
2010-03-30
Signed
Stoke-on-Trent South
Labour
John Grogan
2010-04-06
Signed
Selby
Labour