This weekend John Kampfner, CEO of Index on Censorship, explained in an article for the Independent the scope and the sources of recent resistance to the Libel Reform Campaign. John outlined three main groups that for varying reasons see little benefit in reforming the UK libel laws and have been the main sources of criticism: large legal firms fearing the depletion of a key source of revenue, senior lawyers and judges who dislike to be put on the spot by inquisitive third sector organisations and the individuals that have profited or otherwise done well out of the existing system. The article further discusses how libel law, injunctions and super-injunctions are being used to tilt the balance between public- and private life in order to ensure that the media does not report facts about the rich and powerful that they find embarrassing. It is thus a fact that powerful and influential forces have entered the fray on the side of the opposition in the debate around libel reform.
Nick Cohen this Sunday wrote a strong piece for the Guardian in favour of the campaign as he lambasted a recent speech by Lord Hoffman where the retired law lord branded the international criticism of the UK libel laws as a neocon scam. Alleging that the complaints about ‘libel tourism’ come entirely from America, Lord Hoffman brings forward the example of a libel case brought by Saudi Khalid Bin Mahfouz against American Rachel Ehrenfeld. Nick Cohen brings in his article us up to date with the circumstances of that particular case and the fallacies that Lord Hoffman utilises to make his point. He also continues to bring up cases where powerful persons and institutions from Denmark, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with little connection to the UK, take advantage of the UK libel laws to silence critics or publications deemed as inappropriate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/07/nick-cohen-law-courts-libel
Another libel case is hitting the headlines this week with Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky suing Vladimir Terluk. Mr Terluk, under the pseudonym Pyotr alleges that Berezovsky forced him to partake in a conspiracy with the goal of convincing the British authorities that Berezovsky could not return to Russia for fear of his life, thereby avoiding to stand trial in Russia for the allegations made both by Terluk and former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi. The accusations made by Terluk were broadcast on the programme Vesti Nedeli on RTR Planeta, a freeview channel available in the UK.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/07/berezovsky-libel-battle-litvinenko-death