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The right to criticise

01 March 1992

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Freedom of speech was upheld in the Court of Appeal in February, by the invocation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In an important decision, the Court said that local authorities and government departments should not have the right to sue for libel and thereby stifle legitimate public criticism of their activities. The case arose from an article in The Times about investments made by Derbyshire County Council and its Labour former leader David Bookbinder. He can still sue, as an individual, but the important principle remains that strong criticism of Council and government department policies can be made without fear of a writ - unless the House of Lords reverses the decision.

Independent 21.2.92

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