4 ms·
But what happens if you apply this argument to other situations? For example, suppose you discover a politician is taking bribes. In the UK there is a formal p
by returningfory2 2y ago
But what happens if you apply this argument to other situations?
For example, suppose you discover a politician is taking bribes. In the UK there is a formal process by which the police can investigate and then bring a case if the evidence is substantive. By your argument here, it would be okay if the government prevented you from publishing the bribery claims in a newspaper. After all, if someone “feels they have genuine evidence [of bribery] to contribute they can approach the [police] and ask for it to be included”. No need for a free press at all.
- dfawcus 2y agoNo, that only applies (in E+W) while a trial is live, or in Scotland from the police investigation being live, to end of investigation and/or trial. If there is no police investigation (Scotland) nor trial (either country), the you can publish what you want. However the normal rules for defamation apply, but there is no prior restraint absent the aforementioned legal processes being live. So if you want to publish about a politician allegedly taking bribes, then have at it. If you can prove its truth, you have a defense to any subsequent defamation (Scotland) or libel (England) case.