Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation 2026-06-30

Tuesday 30 June 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rupa Huq asked the Minister about legislation to tackle SLAPPs, highlighting a case involving a constituent threatened with legal action for petitioning against a planning application.
  • The Minister responded that new economic crime laws have been implemented but emphasized the intention to introduce SLAPP legislation when parliamentary time permits, aiming to move forward before the next general election.
  • Alicia Kearns raised concerns about SLAPPs being used to attack rape charities and survivors, underscoring the need for protective legislation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Justice & Courts Economy Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Constituent Jason faced legal notice from a major law firm for collecting signatures on Change.org against a local planning application.

Question

My constituent Jason was served with a legal notice by one of the world's largest law firms, instructed by a megabucks developer, for collecting signatures on Change.org against a local planning application. When will the legislation to tackle SLAPPs be introduced?

Answer from David Lammy

We have implemented new laws relating to economic crime, but we intend to bring forward legislation when parliamentary time allows. We are also working across the House to see what more can be done in this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.

How: Working Across The House, When Parliamentary Time Allows

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Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Prime Minister wrote in The Guardian about the need to protect individuals from SLAPPs.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend tell me when the legislation will be introduced? I know that the Prime Minister wrote in The Guardian in October 2024 that the rich and powerful should not intimidate the little guy through such legal processes. Right now, this feels for Jason like a bit of a slap in the face.

Answer from David Lammy

We are determined to move in this area before the next general election, but we are also working across the House to see what more can be done over this period.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.

How: Working Cross-Party, Before The Next General Election

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Q3 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Enough, a company manufacturing self-swab rape kits, is using SLAPPs to attack rape charities and survivors.

Question

Self-swab rape kits are not admissible in court, yet the company Enough is using SLAPPs to attack rape charities and survivors who dare to speak out against it. This is exactly why we need the sort of legislation that has been mentioned to come forward: to protect the victims and survivors of sexual violence who have been ruthlessly targeted. I implore the Government to please bring forward the legislation at the earliest possible opportunity and to ban Enough from having its illegal equipment in our country.

Answer from David Lammy

We are aware of this issue, it is hugely concerning, and we have to legislate. We hope that by working cross-party, we can move swiftly in this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.

How: Working Cross-Party, Move Swiftly

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Q4 Ben Obese-Jecty Con Huntingdon
Democracy & Elections
Context

Two separate instances of parish councillors being bullied out of public office in Hemingford and Ellington due to planning concerns.

Question

I am hugely concerned about the manner in which SLAPPs are being used to intimidate and harass individuals in public service. In my constituency alone, I have seen two separate instances of parish councillors being bullied out of public office. Both Hemingford and Ellington parish councils have been targeted due to planning concerns—one by a local company and one by a wealthy individual. Such an attempt to stifle democracy is unacceptable. Parish councils are the bedrock of democracy and the brazen attempt to railroad individual parish councillors is unacceptable. What are the Government doing to protect local councillors from being left exposed to SLAPPs, which deters people from participating in democratic representation?

Answer from David Lammy

We have to act. We will work cross-party and there are some vehicles by which we might well be able to see progress over the coming months.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific measures or timeline for protection was not provided.

How: Working Cross-Party, Some Vehicles

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