A leading QC is preparing a Private Member’s Bill to reform defamation law and increase public access to official information.

Anthony Lester, who sits in the House of Lords as Lib Dem life peer Lord Lester of Herne Hill has argued leading free speech cases in English courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

His Bill will build on the Defamation Acts of 1952 and 1996, both of which began as Private Member’s Bills in the House of Lords, reports Media Lawyer.

Working with distinguished libel lawyers, he is designing a Bill to be introduced in the House of Lords next year which will have the support of campaign groups such as English PEN, Article 19 and Index on Censorship.

Libel tourism will be one of the issues which the Bill will cover.

Lord Lester said: “Libel tourism is only a small part of the problem – the main problem is the lack of balance in libel law itself between the right to free expression and the right to a good reputation.

“We will seek to create a better balance but will not go so far as to reverse the burden of proof.”

Other issues being considered include requiring a corporate claimant to prove financial loss; clarifying public interest in the Reynolds; introducing a minimum threshold of seriousness; making the honest comment defence more useful; considering remedies other than compensation; and making trial by judge alone the normal mode of trial.