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| "Bognor - whose case was buggered by the House of Lords in 1993" Link to New Statesman |
"It is a principle of the common law of England and Wales that a public authority cannot bring an action for defamation. And this is right and proper, as being able to sue for libel (and thereby threaten to sue for libel) would have an unwelcome "chilling" effect on public criticism of governmental bodies. Individual councillors and officers can sue for defamation, but not the authorities themselves.
"However, this sensible legal safeguard appears to be under threat. The City lawyers advising Rutland County Council are saying that the recently enacted Localism Act has changed the legal position, and now it is open to public bodies to freely sue - and threaten to sue - for libel."
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