Tory paymaster uses dodgy UK libel laws to censor BBC documentary scrutinising his affairs
If they’re this repressive in opposition, what will they be like in government?
Exploiting a draconian law to suppress political debate in the run up to an election? I think this takes us into banana republic territory. Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza would be impressed…
From The Independent
The BBC has shelved a Panorama documentary about the business affairs of the Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft, because of a threat of legal action.
The Corporation has received what one insider described as “several very heavy letters” from Lord Ashcroft’s lawyers. There is now little or no prospect of the investigation being broadcast before the general election, if it goes out at all.
The hold-up will delight David Cameron’s campaign team, who had been trying to pressure the BBC into delaying the programme until after the general election. But sources inside the Corporation firmly deny that political pressure played a part in keeping the programme off the air, attributing the delay solely to the risk of legal action.
The Tories are anxious to suppress more publicity about Lord Ashcroft’s affairs after the outcry earlier this month when the Tory billionaire belatedly revealed that he is not domiciled in the UK for tax purposes, and so pays no tax on his huge overseas assets.
Hi Richard
I noticed that article too. I bet what we know is only a fraction of the actual no. of occurrences.
Also thanks for the Twitter plug.
Calumcarr
March 18, 2010 at 8:31 am
If it is true then they can publish. If the report is responsible then they can publish. The UK’s ‘dodgy’ libel laws prevent the irresponsible publication of untrue allegations. That’s a good thing.
Michael Brown
March 18, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Hi Michael, the reason people say UK libel law is “dodgy” is exactly because it doesn’t protect fair, truthful and accurate reporting. If you’re a billionaire with expensive lawyers you can effectively buy the silence of the media. This is why US states are passing laws to protect their citizens from malicious, vexatious UK libel suits. Our laws fall short of even the simple free speech standards laid out in the US constitution. There’s a lot of detailed evidence on this here: http://www.libelreform.org/our-report
Richard Wilson
March 18, 2010 at 8:24 pm
And if you don’t believe those guys, try David Davis… http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/163406/Libel-laws-Dangerous-enemies-of-free-speech
Richard Wilson
March 18, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Once again, the BBC has been muzzled. It stinks that we cannot learn the truth about the Tories’ number one financial donor.
http;//clemthegem.wordpress.com/
Doctordrink
September 27, 2010 at 10:36 pm