"Two Private Members’ Bills in both houses place Anti-SLAPP reform firmly on the parliamentary agenda", 16 June 2026

On 16 June 2026, the Rt. Hon. Baroness Stowell of Beeston and, on the following day, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Whittingdale MP will both introduce anti-SLAPP Private Members’ Bills in the Lords and the Commons respectively. The introduction of parallel bills in both Houses within two days is a rare demonstration of cross-chamber solidarity and pressure, signalling the mounting demand for stronger protections against this abuse of the legal system after repeated delays in government action.

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are abusive legal threats that are not necessarily intended to win in court, but rather to silence, intimidate or financially exhaust those speaking out in the public interest…

The UK has been identified as the leading source of SLAPPs, almost as frequent a source as the EU and US combined, yet despite repeated cross-party demands for reform, attempts to provide greater legal protection have repeatedly stalled...

Sir John Whittingdale MP is set to introduce his Bill to the House of Commons tomorrow, which would establish a similar early dismissal mechanism to help SLAPP victims avoid expensive, drawn-out legal proceedings…

This development has been warmly welcomed by the Coalition, which has spent over five years supporting targets and monitoring abusive legal threats targeting journalists, sexual abuse survivors, community groups and local campaigners across the UK...

Both Private Members’ Bills will receive a second reading, expected to take place after the Parliament’s summer recess. Given the historically strong cross-party support for anti-SLAPP legislation, there is prospect of reform reaching the statute book should the Government rally support behind the Bills. As one of the first six MPs selected in the ballot, his Bill is guaranteed a full day’s debate.