The Observer journalist faced ruin if the verdict went against her. There must be more protection for people who keep us informed
The judgment in favour of Carole Cadwalladr in the libel action brought against her by the multimillionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks is both extremely welcome and vitally important. It is great news for the public’s right to know and for supporters of a free press – and great news for campaigners against the often oppressive laws that have made London the libel capital of the world.
Those of us who saw Cadwalladr give impassioned evidence in her trial in January were struck both by her commitment to her investigations and by the fact she was fighting a battle that could have led to financial ruin. What will the ramifications of the decision be?, coinciding as it does with government promises to control the increasing number of strategic lawsuits against public participation, or Slapps – where the wealthy use expensive legal procedures to silence journalists?
Duncan Campbell is a former Guardian crime correspondent and Los Angeles correspondent
