Freedom of speech campaigners condemn claim against MSP

A £750,000 defamation claim against Green MSP Andy Wightman  has been condemned by freedom of speech campaigners.

A business that offered “fun” titles for a cost of £30 accused Mr Wightman of damaging its reputation online before he was elected to the Parliament last year.

Mr Wightman has the support of Scottish Pen, which is campaigning for reform of the defamation laws, saying:

“Scottish Pen condemns the action brought against Andy Wightman and calls for reform to adequately protect free expression and public interest reporting.

“Free expression in Scotland is done a dangerous disservice by the outdated and inadequate defamation laws that are currently in place.

“Nowhere is this more apparent than in the claim made against Mr Wightman for his public interest reporting made as an independent advocate for land reform in Scotland.

Read more: http://scottishpen.org/defamation-public-interest/

 

 

 

Photo credit: 3D Judges Gavel by Chris Potter (2012) / StockMonkeys.com / CC BY 2.0