PRESS INFORMATION ________________________________________________

Newspapers and broadcasters have re-established the right to criticize the activities of political parties following a landmark ruling in the High Court today. Mr Justice Buckley struck out a writ from Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party for alleged defamation by Sunday Business, Britain's only national broadsheet dedicated to the business corninunity.

Following an article published on 23 March 1997. At the Royal Courts of Justice this morning, Mr Justice Buckley declared that: 'the case for the public interest in freedom of speech about those putting themselves forward for Government is sufficiently strong to make this ruling.

This is a landmark judgement which upholds the overriding importance of freedom of speech at the time of the general election. The Judge recognised that political parties should engage in debate and not telephone a lawyer when they do not like what has been written about them". Although individual politicians can still claim libel, this ruling sets a precedent by preventing political parties from taking recourse to the Courts.

This follows a similar ruling covering actions by local authorities made in 1993.

The plaintiffs have been given leave to contest the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

For More Information :Contact: Mark Court, News Editor or David Rydell, Editor, Sunday Business, on 0171 4686000 OR David Price on 0171 9169911

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