In what is, for bloggers, very welcome news, Index on Censorship are reporting that Jack Straw has announced that the government believes the case for libel reform has been made, and that the Ministry of Justice will now move to make reforms to England’s defamation laws, potentially with a Libel Reform Bill.

In terms of the specifics, it appears that the pernicious Brunswick (multiple publication) rule will go and will be replaced with a single publication rule operating under a one year limit, but with scope to allow judges to extend that limit where necessary.

Consideration is also to be given to the creation of a statutory defence for publications that are in the public interest and to procedural changes designed to curb the growth in libel tourism.

All-in-all this appears to be  several steps in the right direction and a significant victory for the ongoing Libel Reform campaign.

It is, however, only the beginning for campaigners.

What is now needed, and quickly, is the commitment of all the main political parties to, at least, the MOJ’s proposed reform package.

Reader comments

1. Sarah Raphael

   RT @libcon: Straw backs libel reform http://bit.ly/90fZhG

2. Chris Paul

   RT @Unity_MoT: RT @libcon: Straw backs libel reform http://bit.ly/90fZhG – A day for quiet satisfaction, now will the Tories and LIb Dems back the reforms?

3. Raincoat Optimism

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4. andrew

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5. Liberal Conspiracy

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6. Unity

   RT @libcon: Straw backs libel reform http://bit.ly/90fZhG – A day for quiet satisfaction, now will the Tories and LIb Dems back the reforms?

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8. union backs

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