We need laws governing the boundaries of free speech, because of the damage that can result from defamatory remarks
Sir, Lord Lester of Herne Hill (report, Feb 21) claims that my case in the European Court of Human Rights was to facilitate actions for prior restraint or “gagging orders”. It was nothing of the kind.
The courts already have the power to restrain publication and will do so if the case is strong enough. My Strasbourg case was not about that.
What I sought was a requirement that a newspaper planning an exposé should be obliged to inform its victim. They do this anyway in 99 cases out of 100 (according to Paul Dacre’s evidence to Parliament in 2009)