UK Libel Lawyers Lobby to Stall Anti-SLAPP Reforms

Despite political promises to curb Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), comprehensive legislation in the UK remains stalled. The article highlights how London-based media lawyers, particularly through the Society of Media Lawyers (SML), have effectively lobbied government officials to delay or weaken anti-SLAPP measures. These legal professionals argue that such reforms are unnecessary and could encourage media excesses, a stance critics claim protects their lucrative libel industry. The narrative is illustrated by the case of freelance reporter Cormac Kehoe, who faced significant financial threats from a libel suit despite lacking prior knowledge of the claim. Although former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and current Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to stop wealthy individuals from using legal threats to silence critics, recent bills have shelved these protections following intense lobbying. Documents obtained via freedom-of-information requests reveal the SML's aggressive campaign to influence civil servants, suggesting that the legal establishment has successfully framed reform as overly complex or dangerous to free speech, thereby maintaining the status quo of Britain's reputation as a global hub for defamation litigation.