The Government must act NOW to protect the free press and keep our important investigative journalism alive
MPs are considering forcing newspapers to pay celebs and politicians who sue - even if cases are thrown out
IMAGINE a judge threw out a case against you because you were completely innocent, then made you pay every penny of your costs and the prosecution’s.
Such a clear injustice couldn’t happen here, could it?
Yes it could. MPs are considering imposing just such a law on the Press.
We’ll explain why in a moment. But it would mean anyone could sue newspapers for libel on a whim. Even if their case was non-existent, and they lost, the paper would have to pay the entire bill.
A crooked politician could sue the publication that exposed him and bankrupt it even when he lost.
Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act would be the instant death of investigative journalism. Newspapers could no longer afford to expose scandals in the public interest and provably true.
The only safety would be under a new industry regulator, Impress — a dubious outfit bankrolled by Max Mosley, a tycoon with a vendetta against the Press.
They are also pondering a SECOND part of the Leveson Inquiry, into the Press’s relationship with the police during the phone hacking scandal.
Why should the public pay millions for that? Hacking was minutely examined in the first part and the criminal trials.
And any relationship papers once had with the police is ancient history. Cops barely now speak to the Press. They are so paranoid about leaks they abuse anti-terror laws to hack reporters’ mobiles.
The Government, in the form of Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, could yet trigger Leveson 2 and Section 40.
The first would be a monstrous waste of time and public money, the second an indefensible hammer blow to freedom of speech and our democracy itself.
She must reject both.
A 10 for Len
OVER 12 years twinkle-eyed Len Goodman has become a national treasure.
What joy he’s brought to Strictly fans. There won’t be a dry eye in the house for his final bow tonight.
So long, Len. And cha-cha very much.