The Government has tabled new amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill to seek to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
In response, Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:
"The Bar Council warmly welcomes these proposals to amend the Economic Crime Bill so as to seek to protect and promote fair comment and press freedom. We will carefully consider the detail of the proposed amendments to ensure that they are practical and workable and strike an appropriate balance between freedom of speech and the protection of reputation. We agree with the Government that the present balance is not in the right place. We also agree with the Government that this important task is one for Parliament, not for regulators."
Last year the Bar Council welcomed a Ministry of Justice package of measures to address Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation and submitted detailed evidence. This followed a Bar Council submission to the EU Commission in January 2022.