- ⨳Introduce a new ‘truth law’ to put the Ministerial Code onto a legal footing.
- There is an urgent need to improve press regulation in order to restore public trust.
- ⨳Currently, political parties are exempt from today’s laws on defamation. This exemption needs to be removed through an amendment to the Defamation Act 2013 to make it possible for one political party to sue another political party for defamation, if this other party publishes a negative, provably false statement of fact referring to the defamed party. In short, it must no longer be acceptable for any political party to lie in public about another political party or to defame its reputation.
Afternote dated 14 Dec 23: A classic example of the lies and defamation that must be expunged from politics in the UK is exemplified in an email sent by the Conservative Party on 14 Dec 23 at 16:59 to all registered email subscribers in the name of Lee Anderson MP (Cons), acting in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of the party. In this email, Lee Anderson specifically says, “Labour not only have no plan to deal with this issue [illegal migration]. They don’t want it dealt with.” Neither of these assertions is true. Indeed, a simple online search will show that Labour published its own five-point plan as far back as Jul 22, and Yvette Cooper reiterated this plan in Parliament on 7 Mar 23. This example is quoted here not to make a party-political point but, instead, to illustrate why every political party must be prohibited from lying about other parties or defaming their reputations.
- The lying would arguably not be “in public” if they could be sure that all their ” registered email subscribers” were party members.
⨳Consideration should be given to reintroducing the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill 2017.