Ministers have been urged not to delay action against wealthy individuals who abuse legal processes to evade scrutiny and intimidate critics. This call follows the establishment of a taskforce aimed at developing “non-legislative” measures to combat Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and protect journalists.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced the taskforce’s creation, emphasizing that an existing bill designed to address economic crimes would address approximately 70% of such cases. She also promised further legislation to tackle SLAPPs beyond economic crimes when parliamentary time permits.
The taskforce will comprise representatives from various media and legal organizations, including the National Union of Journalists, Index on Censorship, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Council, the Media Lawyers Association, and the Foreign Policy Centre. In its initial meeting, the taskforce discussed its terms of reference and will devise a plan to implement non-legislative measures to combat SLAPPs over the next 12 months, subject to reassessment.
Liam Byrne, a Labour MP and advocate for stronger measures against SLAPPs, welcomed the taskforce’s formation but stressed the need for swifter action to address remaining SLAPPs not covered by the economic crime bill. He called for a comprehensive anti-SLAPP law to be included in the upcoming king’s speech on November 7, cautioning against further delays.
During the state opening of parliament, the government will outline its proposed laws for the final year before a general election. However, there are indications that the prime minister may prefer a “slimmed down” speech to avoid controversial issues and enable MPs to focus on re-election efforts.
Byrne regarded the anti-SLAPP amendments to the economic crime bill as temporary solutions, lacking the necessary power to deter influential individuals. Advocates for addressing SLAPPs have proposed non-legislative measures, such as establishing a defense fund for investigative journalists and tightening anti-money laundering regulations to cover legal advice provided by law firms in civil cases against news organizations.
Susan Coughtrie, the director of the Foreign Policy Centre and co-chair of the UK anti-SLAPP coalition, expressed support for non-legislative measures but emphasized the need for a dedicated UK anti-SLAPP law to effectively address such litigation and mitigate the high costs associated with SLAPP actions.