Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation 2026-06-30

2026-06-30

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Rupa Huq Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Context
Constituent Jason faced legal notice from a major law firm for collecting signatures on Change.org against a local planning application.
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?
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.
Assessment & feedback
The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.
Working Across The House When Parliamentary Time Allows
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Rupa Huq Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Context
The Prime Minister wrote in The Guardian about the need to protect individuals from SLAPPs.
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.
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.
Assessment & feedback
The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.
Working Cross-Party Before The Next General Election
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Alicia Kearns Con
Rutland and Stamford
Context
Enough, a company manufacturing self-swab rape kits, is using SLAPPs to attack rape charities and survivors.
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.
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.
Assessment & feedback
The exact timeline for introducing legislation was not provided.
Working Cross-Party Move Swiftly
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Ben Obese-Jecty Con
Huntingdon
Context
Two separate instances of parish councillors being bullied out of public office in Hemingford and Ellington due to planning concerns.
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?
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.
Assessment & feedback
The specific measures or timeline for protection was not provided.
Working Cross-Party Some Vehicles
Response accuracy