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Adjournment debate on Wednesday, 17 December 2008, in the House of Commons, led by Frank Cook. The answering member was Bridget Prentice.

Libel Laws

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the operation of the libel laws.

Secondary information

Type
Parliamentary proceeding
Reference
485 c69-92WH 
Session
2008-09
Department
Ministry of Justice
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Proceeding contributions
Speaker | 485 c69WH (Link to this contribution) The first topic for consideration today is the operation of the libel laws. As I have no specific kn...
Denis MacShane | 485 c70-1WH (Link to this contribution) I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman might make his speech in his own time. It is worrying that 30 n...
Show all contributions (51)
Richard Ottaway | 485 c70WH (Link to this contribution) For a libel action to be successfully mounted in the United Kingdom, there would have to be a libel ...
Denis MacShane | 485 c70WH (Link to this contribution) That is self-evident, but the US is seeking to protect its citizens and those who reside there who w...
Denis MacShane | 485 c69-70WH (Link to this contribution) Thank you, Mr. Cook. Believe me, I have no intention of transgressing your wise suggestions. I star...
Speaker | 485 c74WH (Link to this contribution) The protocol of 90-minute debates in this Chamber requires us to start the first of the three wind-u...
Denis MacShane | 485 c71-4WH (Link to this contribution) From a sedentary position, the hon. Gentleman asks why. Conditional fees are now being used to stack...
Lord Garnier | 485 c71WH (Link to this contribution) Is the hon. Gentleman not aware of the summary jurisdiction of the High Court in these matters?
Denis MacShane | 485 c71WH (Link to this contribution) Yes, I am. The hon. and learned Gentleman, of course, is an adornment to the libel bar. I am sure th...
Lord Garnier | 485 c89WH (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Gentleman excuse me, because I have got to—
Denis MacShane | 485 c88WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. and learned Gentleman give way?
Lord Garnier | 485 c87-8WH (Link to this contribution) That is right, but the problem that we face with Rome II—I do not want to get diverted down this lin...
Evan Harris | 485 c87WH (Link to this contribution) I accept what the hon. and learned Gentleman says, but my understanding of the Rome II proposal is t...
Lord Garnier | 485 c87WH (Link to this contribution) Before I declare a number of interests, let me deal with the Rome II point that the hon. Member for ...
Evan Harris | 485 c86-7WH (Link to this contribution) I will get there in the end, as I head down through Croydon, which is a fascinating place, I am sure...
Evan Harris | 485 c86WH (Link to this contribution) It would be possible, but of course it is also possible to set up a temporary hotmail e-mail account...
Bob Spink | 485 c86WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is asking what we should do about internet defamation and blogs. Would it be so d...
Evan Harris | 485 c85-6WH (Link to this contribution) Indeed; the hon. Gentleman tells me that the time limit is one year. There is a further point about...
Richard Ottaway | 485 c83WH (Link to this contribution) I seem to be in a minority in not being subject or party to a libel action, so I do not speak with a...
Bob Spink | 485 c83WH (Link to this contribution) Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a form of small claims court in the pre-defamation protoco...
Evan Harris | 485 c84-5WH (Link to this contribution) I should also start by declaring interests, in that I have also had to seek recourse to talk to lawy...
Richard Ottaway | 485 c83WH (Link to this contribution) The right hon. Gentleman may say nay—
Richard Ottaway | 485 c83WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate the Government on introducing that measure—I think it was this Government that introd...
Denis MacShane | 485 c83WH (Link to this contribution) No, I actually agree with the hon. Gentleman on this.
Andrew Pelling | 485 c82WH (Link to this contribution) American imperialism at its best.
Richard Ottaway | 485 c82-3WH (Link to this contribution) The right hon. Gentleman repeats points that he made in his speech. What the Americans do and how th...
Denis MacShane | 485 c82WH (Link to this contribution) No, it is not that. It is British imperialism to think that a British court can stop the publication...
Bridget Prentice | 485 c92WH (Link to this contribution) I take very seriously what the hon. and learned Gentleman says, and I agree. We will publish as soon...
Speaker | 485 c92WH (Link to this contribution) Order. We must respond to the constraints of time and move on. [Interruption.] Will Members please c...
Lord Garnier | 485 c92WH (Link to this contribution) If the Government are proposing to look at the issue of conditional fee agreements, as I think they ...
Denis MacShane | 485 c89WH (Link to this contribution) He has just accused me of defaming somebody. That is a serious accusation.
Speaker | 485 c89WH (Link to this contribution) On that point of order, I heard no explicit accusation of defamation.
Denis MacShane | 485 c89WH (Link to this contribution) On a point of order, Mr. Cook. Is it in order for an hon. Member to accuse another right hon. Member...
Bridget Prentice | 485 c90-1WH (Link to this contribution) Thank you, Mr. Cook, for your wise advice at the beginning of the debate. I might as well begin by d...
Lord Garnier | 485 c89WH (Link to this contribution) If the right hon. Gentleman is upset about something, perhaps we could discuss it outside—then we ca...
Bridget Prentice | 485 c91-2WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) referred to that. I beg his pardon. My right hon. Frie...
Norman Lamb | 485 c77-8WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) on securing the debate, which is o...
Lord Gove | 485 c78-80WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) on securing the debate and the hon...
Evan Harris | 485 c80WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman has set out some components of the Reynolds defence. I believe that part of that ...
Lord Gove | 485 c80-1WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is right that broadly 10 principles are outlined in the Reynolds defence, one of ...
Andrew Pelling | 485 c74-6WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) on securing the debate. The timing...
Speaker | 485 c76WH (Link to this contribution) Order. There are 30 minutes left for Back Benchers to speak in the debate and three hon. Members are...
Richard Ottaway | 485 c81WH (Link to this contribution) I join others in congratulating the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) on securing this ...
Denis MacShane | 485 c81WH (Link to this contribution) I should have declared an interest as a former president of the National Union of Journalists; I hop...
Richard Ottaway | 485 c81-2WH (Link to this contribution) There is a world of difference between complaining about the activities of a firm of solicitors in c...
Denis MacShane | 485 c82WH (Link to this contribution) It is very decent of the hon. Gentleman to give way. I do not want to eat into the former Front-Benc...
Subjects
Defamation Reform
Link
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