Justice Secretary Jack Straw has announced a series of measures aimed at reforming UK libel laws and preventing so-called 'libel tourism'.

Planned reforms announced yesterday (23 March) and put forward by the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) Libel Working Group include a measure intended to discourage foreign claimants from using English courts to make libel claims against non-EU publications that can be accessed in the UK.

The proposals also include a new statutory public interest defence aimed at reducing the threat of legal proceedings brought against responsible, investigative journalism.

The MoJ said the defence would help 'the chilling effect' existing libel laws can have on freedom of speech.

Straw (pictured) commented: "Our current libel laws need to achieve a fair balance between allowing people to protect their reputations from defamatory allegations, and ensuring that freedom of expression and the public's right to know on matters of public interest are not unnecessarily impeded. At the moment, we believe that the balance is tilted too much in favour of the former."

Other proposals included in yesterday's announcement include the replacement of the multiple publication rule with a single publication rule that would prevent claimants from bringing a case against every publication or download of a story repeating the same claims. Instead claimants would only be able to bring a single action within one year of the date of the original publication.

The changes could be introduced in a Libel Reform Bill if Labour wins the next general election.

Lewis Silkin head of defamation Rod Dadak told Legal Week: "Our libel laws are kinder to the media than ever before and responsible journalists have nothing to fear. But there have been serious abuses of conditional fee arrangements and costs are out of control. These abuses need to be corrected, though legislation is not, in my opinion, necessary as the powers are already available.

"Overall, there has been something of an overreaction fuelled by a vigorous press campaign by a cash-strapped press (hardly attracting huge public support) and a Government no doubt anxious to get the media vote."