Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation
Debate between Lord Cromwell and Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)
I do not know the answer to the noble Lord’s question, so I will write to him.
Lord Cromwell (CB)
I had quite a lot to do with getting a SLAPPs element into the economic crime Act as a beachhead, but it was always seen as just that: a beachhead. A far more comprehensive law was to follow, covering all the other sectors beyond economic crime. Why have we not seen anything further? Will we see something further during this Parliament to cover the other areas? I am sure the Minister will be aware that law firms that profit from this will be lobbying hard against it. I hope he will resist that.
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)
I remember the interventions from the noble Lord, Lord Cromwell, in the debates on that Act, in which I took part as well. I am going to give the noble Lord the same answer as I have just given. We want to see how the changes to the rules will change the actions of the courts. SLAPPs are covert and they need to be identified. We want to enable the judges to identify them appropriately.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation
Debate between Lord Cromwell and Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede(8 months ago)
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Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)
Regarding the noble Lord’s opening comments, I am a hereditary Peer, though not an elected one, but I am a life Peer, which is the reason I am standing here at the moment. The noble Lord is absolutely right: my right honourable friend David Lammy has expressed very strong views on this matter, which is one that the Government are taking seriously. As I tried to reassure noble Lords in my earlier answers, we want to get this right and to be trenchant in the legislation that we bring forward.
Lord Cromwell (CB)
Does the Minister agree that any further legislation coming forward on SLAPPs should enable the judge to determine the intent of the litigant by their actions as to whether they are trying to harass the defendant? Will the legislation further make clear that no level of such harassment is acceptable?