The problem with the English (as opposed to British - Scotland is different) libel system was that it went out of its way to penalise free speech. So you could

The problem with the English (as opposed to British - Scotland is different) libel system was that it went out of its way to penalise free speech. So you couldn't recover all your costs in a case, and libel barristers are some of the highest earning. Losing a case meant you could be liable for part of the other side's fees, so you are easily looking at £100k+ when fighting a case. So it became really easy for bullying threats of a lawsuit to shut down awkward speech. Not just in England, anything "published" in England - and there the courts consistently ruled incredibly broadly. So you had all sorts of dodgy foreigners using the English libel system to crush criticism abroad.