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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tories block key company libel reforms | Tories block key company libel reforms |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Conservatives have succeeded in their attempt to water down defamation laws which would have prevented large companies ranging from McDonald's to Tesco from suing their critics unless they could prove financial losses. | The Conservatives have succeeded in their attempt to water down defamation laws which would have prevented large companies ranging from McDonald's to Tesco from suing their critics unless they could prove financial losses. |
| The Conservatives won a vote in the House of Commons to remove a House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill to tighten up the laws which critics say allow corporations to stifle free speech. | The Conservatives won a vote in the House of Commons to remove a House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill to tighten up the laws which critics say allow corporations to stifle free speech. |
| But during the Commons debate, the justice secretary Helen Grant promised to reconsider the amendment after the vote to get the support of the Liberal Democrats. | But during the Commons debate, the justice secretary Helen Grant promised to reconsider the amendment after the vote to get the support of the Liberal Democrats. |
| But Labour denounced Grant's concession as a sham and it is almost certain the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester, who has led a three-year battle for libel reform, will move to reinstate the amendment when the bill returns to the Lords. | But Labour denounced Grant's concession as a sham and it is almost certain the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester, who has led a three-year battle for libel reform, will move to reinstate the amendment when the bill returns to the Lords. |
| After losing the vote 298 to 230, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "The government gave the impression there would be last minute concessions but this has proved false." | After losing the vote 298 to 230, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "The government gave the impression there would be last minute concessions but this has proved false." |
| Britain's libel laws have been used by corporations to "take journalists out of the game," Labour MP Paul Farrelly told the House of Commons on Tuesday. | |
| Tracey Brown from Sense about Science which has campaigned for doctors and scientists who have been sued after they criticised big health companies said she was "deeply disappointed" the clause was removed but that support from many MPs on the issue had led to the government concession. | Tracey Brown from Sense about Science which has campaigned for doctors and scientists who have been sued after they criticised big health companies said she was "deeply disappointed" the clause was removed but that support from many MPs on the issue had led to the government concession. |
| The amendment also included a clause, now struck out, which would have banned local councils and their subcontractors from suing anyone who criticised them in their performance of public duties, paid for by the taxpayer. | The amendment also included a clause, now struck out, which would have banned local councils and their subcontractors from suing anyone who criticised them in their performance of public duties, paid for by the taxpayer. |
| Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley made an impassioned plea with his fellow politicians not to vote to remove this clause said that although case law had established, under the so-called Derbyshire principle, that councils could not sue, this did not extend to private companies such as Atos Healthcare, a company employed by the department of work and pensions, which has threatened disability blogs and websites with legal action. | Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley made an impassioned plea with his fellow politicians not to vote to remove this clause said that although case law had established, under the so-called Derbyshire principle, that councils could not sue, this did not extend to private companies such as Atos Healthcare, a company employed by the department of work and pensions, which has threatened disability blogs and websites with legal action. |
| Agreeing with Bottomley, Khan said: "Just because a school, prison or hospital is run by a private company doesn't mean it should be insulated from public criticism." | Agreeing with Bottomley, Khan said: "Just because a school, prison or hospital is run by a private company doesn't mean it should be insulated from public criticism." |
| English PEN, whose campaign for libel reform has been backed by high-profile figures including Stephen Fry and William Boyd said: "We're depending on the Lords now to deliver the reform that all the parties signed up to. | English PEN, whose campaign for libel reform has been backed by high-profile figures including Stephen Fry and William Boyd said: "We're depending on the Lords now to deliver the reform that all the parties signed up to. |
| "It's essential that companies are no longer allowed to exploit libel law to bully whistleblowers into silence. This has always been a key demand for the campaign." | "It's essential that companies are no longer allowed to exploit libel law to bully whistleblowers into silence. This has always been a key demand for the campaign." |
| • The headline of this article was amended on 17 April 2013 to reflect the fact that the defamation bill as a whole has not been blocked | • The headline of this article was amended on 17 April 2013 to reflect the fact that the defamation bill as a whole has not been blocked |