This Library Note is published in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Defamation Bill on 9 October 2012.
Defamation Bill (HL Bill 41 of 2012–13) (376 KB , PDF)
This Library Note is published in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Defamation Bill on 9 October 2012. The Note focuses on the report stage and third reading in the House of Commons, and is complemented by two House of Commons Library Notes on the Bill itself and on the second reading and committee stages in the Commons.
Defamation Bill (HL Bill 41 of 2012–13) (376 KB , PDF)
The European Convention on Human Rights was signed by the members of the Council of Europe, including the UK, in Rome in 1950. The UK was one of the first states to ratify it in 1951 and it is now incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998. The UK government has recently restated its unequivocal commitment to the convention.
The crown court backlog reached a record high of 73,105 cases in September 2024. The impact on victims, witnesses and defendants has been significant as they wait longer for their cases to be resolved. The government commissioned an independent review of criminal courts that will produce reform recommendations to address crown court pressures. Whilst stakeholders have welcomed the review, some have called for more immediate action to reduce the backlog.
Iranian authorities have detained British and dual nationals on various charges in recent years, including espionage. The exact number of those detained is not published because some choose to avoid publicity. UN human rights experts have referred to “systemic arbitrary detention” in Iran. The Labour government plans to support British nationals detained overseas by creating a special envoy for complex detention cases and ensuring a legal right to consular assistance.
